Self Directed

Listen to our conversation with Juliet Silveira, a mother of three, unschooler, and former educator, as we delve into her journey from teaching in charter schools to discovering the world of unschooling and alternative education.

Juliet is a consultant in parenting, education, and organizational culture, and she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master's in Education Research. We stumbled over Juliet's work on Instagram, where she is active as JulietLearns..

In this podcast episode, Juliet shares her struggles with the disparities in the American school system and her quest to find a free school that aligns with her parenting values.

We also discuss the challenges she faces in advocating for change on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok and explore the differences between European and American school systems, including the issues surrounding standardized testing and the limitations it places on Montessori schools.

Prepare to have your perspective on education transformed as we uncover alternative approaches to serve our children's needs and development better.

See show notes at TheConrad.Family/SelfDirected7

🗓️ Recorded December 30th, 2023. 📍Casa Nina, Sampieri, Sicily, Italy

Connect with Julia
Website: https://www.julietsilveira.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/julietlearns
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/julietlearns

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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theconradfamily

What if your child could thrive outside the traditional school system, learning self-direction and social skills through play and exploration?

Peter Gray is such a clear voice regarding understanding the power of unschooling and playing as a tool for learning.  We have for a long time wanted to talk with Peter and are happy to here share with you our dialogue with him.

In our conversation with Peter Gray, we discuss the challenges of finding a social life for homeschooled children, especially in Europe. Peter shares his insights on the importance of age-mixed groups, the history of childhood, and the difficulties modern families face in building a community for their kids.

Libraries and after-school play programs present unique opportunities for homeschooled children to socialize and grow. Peter's research on libraries as social hubs for kids reveals that many institutions even cater specifically to homeschooling families. We also discuss Let Grow, a nonprofit working with schools to provide after-school play, and compare European school systems with their emphasis on balance between education and playtime.

Reimagining education means rethinking the adult role in children's lives.

We dive into the concept of "No Rules School" in New Zealand and the surprising benefits of minimal adult intervention, such as reduced bullying and increased empathy. ‘

Peter also shares his thoughts on how homeschooling and self-directed education can offer solutions for improving the current school system.

Don't miss this thought-provoking conversation with Peter Gray, as we explore the potential for a brighter future in education.

See show notes at TheConrad.Family/SelfDirected6

🗓️ Recorded January 10th, 2023. 📍Casa Nina, Sampieri, Sicily, Italy

Connect with Peter Gray

• Peter Gray's blog: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn
• Peter Gray's Website: https://www.petergray.org
• Peter Gray's research: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/peter-gray-phd
• Follow Peter Gray on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peter.gray.3572 
• Let Grows website: https://letgrow.org
• The Alliance for Self-Directed Education: https://www.self-directed.org

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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family
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Have you ever wondered about the challenges and rewards of homeschooling your children? 

Join us as we sit down with Jae Williams, the founder of Black Dad's Journey, to discuss his inspiring transition from being a teacher to becoming a homeschool dad. Jae shares his passion for education, as well as his struggles and successes as a stay-at-home parent.

We explore the importance of building connections, finding the balance between passion and parenting, and the potential benefits of unschooling. Jae opens up about his experiences in traditional education and how they shaped his decision to homeschool his daughter. His journey is a powerful reminder of the impact we can have on our children's lives as educators and parents.

After years of teaching in the classroom, Jae realized the flaws of how we school. Now he is an unschooling dad chronicling his journey on YouTube and Instagram. In his videos, he shares his thoughts on unschooling. He discusses some complex parenting topics, like being a stay-at-home dad, deschooling, setting boundaries in relationships, and building strong relationships with his children.  Black Dad hopes that sharing details of his unschooling life will help others in their journey.

In this captivating conversation, we also delve into the challenges of giving up a corporate job to become a stay-at-home parent and how to create your own value and recognition. With Jae’s guidance, discover how to bring passion and creativity back to the classroom, whether in a traditional school setting or the comfort of your home.

Don't miss this insightful episode that will leave you questioning the status quo and inspired to explore new educational possibilities.

See show notes at TheConrad.Family/SelfDirected5

🗓️ Recorded October 6th, 2022. 📍Páramo del Sil, Spain

Connect with Jae Williams aka Black Dad

• Subscribe to his YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/blackdad 
• Follow him on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BlackDadJourney
• Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackdadjourney

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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theconradfamily

Have you ever considered what your life would look like if you abandoned societal norms and embraced a life of travel and unconventional learning? 

Lainie Liberti, did just that - and her journey will inspire you to reimagine your own path. From changing her name on her 40th birthday to adopting the world schooling lifestyle, Lainies story is a testament to the power of living life on your own terms.

We have known Lainie since before we took our first long road trip. We had a newborn baby and planned to drive through Europe for three months, In a small car with four kids; the youngest was just four months. I remember how insecure we felt, and the need to find like-minded was big - so we were very happy when we got to know Lainie through her first Facebook group - way back when.

The Baby in question, Fjord, is now 11 years old and has been full-time-traveling more than half his life.

Join us as we discuss Lainie’s transition from traditional public school education to a free-flowing learning approach with her son and how her experiences have shaped her parenting and self-discovery journey. 

We delve into the importance of community support in the world schooling movement, sharing insights and advice from our own experiences and those of others in our global network.

But it's not all smooth sailing. We also tackle the tough subject of facing fears and emotions head-on for personal growth. 

Discover how Lainie processes her fears and learns to separate thought from belief using powerful tools like Byron Katie's "The Work." 

Our conversation will reveal how embracing emotions and developing inner strength can ultimately lead to becoming the best possible parent and partner in our children's learning journeys. 

The first time we met Lainie face to face was in 2019 in Granada - a true blessing. Lainie was among those who inspired us to roam the earth. So here she is, and we hope she will inspire you as well :)

If you've ever felt the tug of your inner adventurer, this episode is for you.

🗓️ Recorded October 5th, 2022. 📍Páramo del Sil, Spain

See show notes at TheConrad.Family/SelfDirected4

Here you can read more about Lainie Liberti:

• Lainie Liberti's website: https://worldschoolingcoach.com/ 
• Lainie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ilainie 
• Lainie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilainie/ 

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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theconradfamily

Can you imagine the profound impact of searching for meaning during a life crisis?

Join us as we speak with Jeremy Lent, author of "The Patterning Instinct" and "The Web of Meaning," about his personal journey of enlightenment and understanding. 

I met Jeremy when I worked as Interim CEO for the NGO Gaia Education. I was introduced to Jeremy through a fellow friend Daniel Christian Wahl, whom I also met through Gaia Education.

After my first meeting with Jeremy, I was left with a feeling of being humble. Here I was, in the room with a great thinker with a mind you want to dive into. I can listen to Jeremy talk for hours. The result of the meeting ended on a professional level with becoming a new Gaia Education program - and I knew I wanted more time together with Jeremy. So when we started our podcast, Jeremy was among the first people I wanted us to talk to. 

I highly recommend his books: "The Patterning Instinct: A Cultural History of Humanity’s Search for Meaning" and "The Web of Meaning: Integrating Science and Traditional Wisdom to Find Our Place in the Universe."

They are profound and deep and leave you with several aha moments. One of the thoughts that affected me most strongly was his comment that: "The first thing that humans domesticated was themselves"...

In this podcast episode, we explore the evolution of meaning-making in human history, the consequences of living in a disconnected society, and the power of love, kindness, and transformation in promoting change and healing.

We dive into the cognitive shifts that occurred as humans transitioned from a nomadic hunter-gatherer existence to a more sedentary agricultural lifestyle and discussed the importance of connectedness, community, and kindness in finding meaning in our lives. As we discuss the implications of the ecological crisis on our civilization, Jeremy shares his insights on hope for a better future and how to begin healing from the deep-rooted conditioning we experience from a young age.

Finally, we explore the Deep Transformation Network and the importance of taking responsibility for our actions and choices as we strive for a more connected and meaningful existence. 

See show notes at TheConrad.Family/SelfDirected3

🗓️ Recorded September 26th, 2022. 📍La Bizière, France

Learn more:
https://jeremylent.com
https://liology.org
https://deeptransformation.network
https://www.facebook.com/JeremyRLent

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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
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What if you could completely transform your perspective on learning and parenting?

In this fascinating episode, we were thrilled to chat with our dear friend Erika Davis-Pitre, whom we met at the World School Summit in Granada in 2019. Erika is one of those people you cannot help to fall in love with. Her smile and presence make you want to listen to her - and if you can make her laugh - it feels a little like when the sun shines. Erika not only helped Cecilia realize that she was a radical unschooler but also changed her entire approach to education and raising children.

After a talk with Erika, you feel stronger and more clear on why you do what you do - Erika is one of the people who have taught us most about what it means to be an unschooling parent and what the benefits are for the parents.

Together, we explore the concept of unschooling as an identifier rather than a definer and delve into the importance of principles over rules.

We discuss how unschooling means leaving the idea of physical school behind and embracing learning all the time, at all times, without any set of circumstances to define one's learning.

Erika shares her unique perspective on radical unschooling and its crucial role in maintaining our humanity in a world that often strips it away from us.

Join us as we examine the incredible benefits of radical unschooling for families, relationships, and personal growth.

We dive into the importance of multi-generational, multi-age groups in learning and the freedom that unschooling provides in finding our individual contributions to the world.

Erika's inspiring story is a testament to the power of unschooling and the joy of self-discovery that it brings into people's lives.

Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation that could change the way you approach learning and life.

Website: https://www.gameschoolcon.com

See show notes at TheConrad.Family/selfdirected2

🗓️ Recorded September 23rd, 2022. 📍La Bizière, France

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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
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What if you could uncover your unique strength or "medicine" and use it to create a purposeful and fulfilling life? 

Join us as we chat with Amrit Sandhu, the host of the popular Inspired Evolution podcast, who shares his journey of self-discovery and how he's helped others do the same.

Searching for a deeper meaning than just working 9-5 and having a “normal weekend,” Amrit started to host talks in his living room, inviting people to talk on subjects of personal development. The talks grew in popularity, and Amrit began to produce the podcast 'Inspired Evolution.' 

Now more than 250 episodes later, Amrit is a world-renowned speaker and coach. His podcast features interviews with the world’s greatest thinkers, minds, hearts, and spiritual leaders dedicated to self-improvement and personal development. 

In our conversation, we delve into the importance of aligning your life with your core values and the profound impact having a supportive person in your corner can make.

Hear how Amrit's journey with Inspired Evolution has led to countless connections and insights, including a powerful encounter with Marianne Williamson and the concept of spiritual entrepreneurship. 

We also explore some of the most inspiring lessons Amrit has learned through his more than 250 incredible podcast episodes.

We wrap up by discussing the power of consistency, mindset, and resilience in personal development and how overcoming challenges can lead to our greatest gifts. 

Learn about the delicate balance between ego and soul and how embracing humility can help guide us on our life path. 

Don't miss this treasure trove of inspiration that will empower you to make a positive impact on the world around you.

🗓️ Recorded August 29th, 2022. 📍Lille Skendsved, Denmark

CONNECT WITH AMRIT SANDHU

Website: https://inspiredevolution.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspired_evolution
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspiredEvolution
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InspiredEvolution 

 

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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family
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