Self Directed

By Cecilie & Jesper ConradSociety & Culture Education Self-Improvement Personal Journals Parenting Kids & Family

Self Directed episodes

May 06, 2025Amir Nathoo | Outschool: Passion, Not Curriculum, Is the Future of Education
Outschool founder Amir Nathoo explains why education built on passion—not curriculum—may be the only way to truly prepare kids for a rapidly changing world. We talk about his shift from traditional schooling in the UK to building Outschool, how becoming a parent deepened his beliefs, and why interest-led learning offers more than just flexibility—it offers resilience.
Amir shares the emotional challenge of stepping away from conventional paths, how Outschool helps parents manage fears without compromising child-led learning, and why AI is forcing us to rethink what human intelligence really is. We also get into the science of farts, cat anatomy, and mock stock trading—and why those classes matter more than you think.
🔗 Connect with Amir Nathoo
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirnathoo
https://x.com/amirnathoo
https://amir.io
🔗 Outschool
https://outschool.com
https://www.facebook.com/outschool
https://www.instagram.com/outschool
https://x.com/outschool
https://www.youtube.com/outschool

🗓️ Recorded May 6th, 2025. 📍 Budapest, Hungary
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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family
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29 min
May 01, 2025David Cole | Questioning Normal – Our Offbeat Life as a Full-Time Traveling Family
Ever wondered what life could look like if you broke free from the conventional 9-5?
David Cole and his family sold their home in Chicago in 2019 and haven’t stopped moving since. Cecilie and Jesper talk with him about how they made the shift from occasional travellers to full-time nomads.
"I think what stopped us the most was mindset," David reveals, reflecting on their journey from dreaming to doing. After years of passionate but occasional travel, they finally made the leap—starting with house-sitting across the US before boarding a 22-day cruise to Singapore and continuing through Southeast Asia. What began as a shared love for exploration evolved into a complete lifestyle redesign that prioritizes presence, connection, and curiosity. This isn’t about escaping; it’s about deciding how to live and taking the next step—even if it’s not perfect.
🔗 Connect with David Cole
https://ouroffbeatlife.com
http://www.facebook.com/ouroffbeatlife
https://www.instagram.com/ouroffbeatlife
https://www.youtube.com/@ouroffbeatlife
https://www.tiktok.com/@ouroffbeatlife
https://open.spotify.com/show/30a99rdTO47PInn0zw6HMy

🗓️ Recorded April 29th, 2025. 📍 Budapest, Hungary
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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
42 min
April 23, 2025 Dr. Cam Caswell | Why Control Fails and Connection Works with Teens
Dr. Cam joins us to discuss parenting teenagers and why efforts to control them often create more distance. She explains how control can undermine trust and why focusing on connection leads to better results.
We discuss the difference between respect and obedience, and how letting teens say “no” builds confidence and self-trust. Jesper shares his shift from being a “parenting by volume” dad to being more present and connected, and how time made the biggest difference.
Dr. Cam describes how many dads step back from parenting teens because they feel disconnected or uncertain about how to relate. She talks about why focusing on influence, not authority, helps parents stay close to their teens even in moments of conflict.
We also talk about how small moments—like asking about your teen’s interests instead of their grades—can rebuild connection when time is limited.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Cam
Website: https://www.askdrcam.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcamcaswell/
Dr. Cams podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parenting-teens-with-dr-cam/id1524209790

🗓️ Recorded April 23th, 2025. 📍 Budapest, Hungary

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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family
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50 min
April 16, 2025 Jacob Nordby | Rethinking Freedom: Purpose, Ritual, and the Value of Being
In this conversation with author and speaker Jacob Nordby, we explore the paradox of freedom in modern life. Is it simply doing whatever we want—or does real freedom require something deeper?
While many consider freedom to be about doing whatever they want without constraints, Jacob challenges this perception. "A lot of people assume that freedom means the ability to do whatever they want," he reflects, "but we're learning that most of what we think and believe happens pretty unconsciously." True freedom, it seems, requires the difficult work of self-awareness and introspection.
Jacob challenges common ideas about success, self-determination, and meaning. Together, we dive into how societal norms shape our values, why unpaid or “unproductive” work (like parenting or crafting) is deeply meaningful, and how rituals in everyday life can reconnect us to purpose. Jacob shares tools for navigating difficult times and reclaiming inner freedom.
“The great victory isn’t avoiding difficulty—it’s knowing we can respond with resilience.”

🎁 Get Jacob’s free journaling tools at https://instituteforcreativeliving.org/creative-self-journal-program
🔗 Connect with Jacob Nordby
Website: https://www.jacobnordby.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacobnordby
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.jacobnordby
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobnordby/

📚 Books mentioned:
Man's Search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl
Braiding Sweetgrass – Robin Wall Kimmerer
Modern Man in Search of a Soul – Carl Jung
Prometheus Rising – Robert Anton Wilson

🗓️ Recorded April 16th, 2025. 📍Vienna, Austria
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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
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1 hr 16 min
April 10, 2025Yasmin & Andy | Beyond Boundaries: One Family's Journey from England to Jungle Living in Belize
Yasmin and Andy left a comfortable life in the UK to join a small off-grid community in the jungles of Belize.
Fifteen years after cycling through Central America, Yasmin and Andy returned—this time with three kids and a desire for a different kind of life. What began as a plan to visit intentional communities in Europe shifted during the pandemic, eventually landing them in a small permaculture community in Belize.
They describe the emotional and practical steps behind leaving the UK, the grief of letting go, and the clarity that comes from recognizing how little time we have. Loneliness in early parenthood, especially within the isolation of the nuclear family, sparked a deeper search for connection. Now, they live alongside five other families where support is built into everyday life.
This isn’t a story about escaping—it’s about building. From self-directed education to shared celebrations and infrastructure, Yasmin and Andy reflect on what it takes to live more freely and cooperatively.
To learn more about Yasmin, Andy, and Sattvā Land or plan a visit, check the links below.
🔗 Learn more about Yasmin, Andy and SattvaLand
https://www.instagram.com/sattvaland
https://www.instagram.com/sattvalearning
https://www.instagram.com/thefreewheelingfive
https://www.sattvaland.com
https://www.sattvaland.com/togetherfamilyretreat
https://www.youtube.com/@thefreewheelingfive7447
🗓️ Recorded April 5th, 2025. 📍 Somewhere in France, on a highway heading towards Monaco
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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family
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59 min
April 02, 2025Amanda Diekman | Radical Acceptance and Low Demand Parenting
In this episode, we speak with Amanda Diekman about how her parenting changed when her six-year-old son went into autistic burnout. He lost verbal communication, stopped eating most foods, and couldn't follow basic routines. Faced with a crisis, Amanda chose to stop trying to fix him and instead removed demands to create safety.
She explains how this shift became the foundation of low-demand parenting—an approach that prioritizes accommodation, reduces expectations, and gives children more agency. We discuss the fear many parents feel when stepping outside conventional norms, how control-based parenting damages relationships, and why even “high-functioning” children may be silently struggling.
Amanda also shares how living in a community centered around disability shifted her perspective on independence and success. We cover specific strategies, including how her family uses language like “you’re forcing me” to signal power imbalances, and how she reframed daily routines to support healing.
Low-demand parenting isn’t just for neurodivergent children—it challenges the broader parenting culture and offers a different way to relate to our kids.
🔗 Learn more about Amanda Diekman
https://www.amandadiekman.com/
https://www.facebook.com/lowdemandamanda
https://www.instagram.com/lowdemandamanda
https://www.youtube.com/@lowdemandamanda
https://www.pinterest.com/lowdemandamanda/
Amandas Podcast episode on The Myth of Permissive Parenting: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-myth-of-permissive-parenting/id1770185265?i=1000677324284
🗓️ Recorded March 21th, 2025. 📍 Barcelona, Spain
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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
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51 min
March 26, 2025Luz Olid and David Caballero | Education Evolution: Beyond Traditional Schooling
Luz and David from Evolving Education left careers in biotechnology to explore and document alternative education models worldwide. Frustrated by rigid schooling systems, they traveled to over 170 learning centers to understand how children learn best outside the traditional classroom.
In this episode, we talk about how compulsory schooling originated in 19th-century Prussia as a system designed to produce obedient soldiers and workers, a model later exported worldwide as a tool for colonization and cultural suppression. We discuss how education has been shaped by these historical forces and why so many modern schools still emphasize conformity over curiosity. Luz and David explain the “Expedition Methodology” they developed, which focuses on exploration, experimentation, and community as key components of meaningful learning. Rather than pushing a single solution, they emphasize the importance of cross-pollination between different educational approaches and the need for families, teachers, and learning communities to collaborate in rethinking how children grow and learn.
Instead of waiting for top-down reforms, they work directly with those already creating change—educators, parents, and pioneers looking for alternatives. Their mission is to make these models more accessible, providing tools and resources to help others implement child-led, passion-driven learning environments.
Visit evolvingeducation.org to access their free ebook, watch their documentary films, and join their community. They also host monthly “Voices of Change” webinars featuring educators working at the forefront of alternative learning.
🔗 Learn more about Evolving Education
https://www.instagram.com/evolvingeducationorg/
https://www.facebook.com/evolvingeducation.org/
https://evolvingeducation.org/en
https://www.youtube.com/@evolvingeducation
https://www.facebook.com/groups/311079551216115/
🗓️ Recorded March 18th, 2025. 📍 Barcelona, Spain
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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
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52 min
March 19, 2025Iris Chen | Untigering: From Control to Connection – Peaceful Parenting for the Tiger Parent
Iris Chen, author of Untigering: Peaceful Parenting for the Deconstructing Tiger Parent, shares how she shifted from a strict, high-expectation parenting style to a trust-based approach.
Raised in a Chinese-American household, Iris grew up with academic pressure and obedience as the norm. She carried those expectations into her own parenting—until she saw how control and punishment were harming her relationship with her children. A parenting workshop on neuroscience led her to rethink discipline, ultimately guiding her toward unschooling.
This conversation looks at how tiger parenting is often rooted in intergenerational trauma, especially in immigrant communities where educational success is tied to security and acceptance. Instead of accepting these methods as “cultural,” Iris encourages parents to examine their origins and whether they truly serve their children today.
📚 Learn more about Iris Chen and Untigering
https://untigering.com
https://www.instagram.com/untigering
https://www.facebook.com/untigering
https://x.com/untigering
https://www.facebook.com/irischenauthor
🗓️ Recorded March 17th, 2025. 📍 Barcelona, Spain
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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
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58 min
March 13, 2025Anne Kirketerp | Craft Psychology: The Link Between Crafting & Wellbeing
The moment you carve, knit, bake or start folding paper, something remarkable happens in your brain. The anxious spiral of thoughts quiets, stress hormones recede, and you enter a state that Dr. Anne Kirketerp calls "meaningful self-forgetfulness."

Dr. Anne Kirketerp is a psychologist, researcher, and craftsperson who pioneered Craft Psychology—the study of how hands-on creative activities impact mental well-being. With a background in both psychology and craftsmanship, she has spent years exploring the health benefits of making, from reducing stress to enhancing focus and problem-solving skills.
Formerly a professor and research director, Anne left academia to focus on studying the link between crafting and mental health. Her work combines scientific research with practical insights, showing how structured and free-form creative activities can foster flow, resilience, and psychological wellbeing.
She is the author of Craft Psychology and runs craftpsychology.com, where she shares research-based insights and exercises designed to help people integrate craft into their daily lives.
📚 Learn more about Anne Kirketerp and Craft Psychology:
https://www.craftpsykologi.dk/english-page
https://www.craftpsykologi.dk/
https://www.instagram.com/craftpsykologi/
https://www.facebook.com/craftpsykologi
🗓️ Recorded February 27th, 2025. 📍 Finhan, France
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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
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1 hr 14 min
March 05, 2025Asger Leth | Beyond the 9 to 5 – Finding Freedom & Creating a Space for Deep Conversations & Real Connections
What does it mean to truly connect in a world that’s becoming more digital by the day?
Asger Leth is a Danish filmmaker, writer, and creative visionary known for his documentary and feature filmmaking work. He gained international recognition for Ghosts of Cité Soleil (2006), a gripping documentary set in Haiti, and later directed the Hollywood thriller Man on a Ledge (2012). Asger has spent years living and working globally with a background deeply rooted in storytelling and cinema.
In this episode, filmmaker and creative visionary Asger Leth shares his journey from a restless nomadic life to creating Lakehouse,a cultural and community space in Copenhagen designed to unite people through dialogue, creativity, and shared experiences.
We dive into:
Why some people need movement while others need stability
The role of risk and uncertainty in a fulfilling life
How AI and the internet are reshaping how we trust information
Why real-life spaces like Lakehouse are more necessary than ever
From filmmaking to philosophy, from travel to deep discussions, this episode is an exploration of what it means to be truly present, connected, and engaged with the world.

📚 Learn more about Asger Leth:
https://asgerleth.com
https://www.instagram.com/asgersays
https://www.facebook.com/AsgerLeth
Asger Leth on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1300606
🔗 Lake House:
https://www.lake-house.net
https://lakehouse.dk
https://www.instagram.com/lakehouse.cph
https://www.facebook.com/lakehousecph
🗓️ Recorded February 20th, 2025. 📍 Finhan, France
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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconrad.family
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1 hr

About Self Directed

From the publisher's feed

Self Directed - A guest based podcast on Life, Learning, and Raising Free Thinkers. Hosted by Cecilie and Jesper Conrad, full-time travellers since 2018 and parents to four.