Self Directed

Louisa Andrea is a retreat host, educator, and worldschooling advocate based in Egypt. She specializes in creating transformative experiences for families and teens, blending education, conservation, and cultural immersion on Egypt's Red Sea coast while drawing on her mindfulness, spiritual coaching, and energy work background.

In this episode, we talk with Louisa Andrea about her move from the UK and Cyprus to Egypt, where she has built a life focused on education and adventure for families and world schoolers. Luisa co-leads community adventures and teen retreats, blending learning with hands-on experiences like conservation with Turtle Watch and cross-cultural exchanges with the local Ababda Bedouin community.

We also discuss the practical challenges of balancing personal aspirations with the evolving needs of children, mainly through homeschooling and unschooling. Luisa shares her journey of adapting her approach to education as her teenage son’s needs change, and we talk about the importance of giving children the freedom to explore their own paths.

Toward the end, we touch on future plans, including a shared interest in solar eclipses, with a focus on the upcoming event in Egypt in 2027. This episode provides practical insights into worldschooling, family life, and creating educational opportunities outside traditional systems.

🗓️ Recorded October 9th, 2024. 📍 The Addisons, Withyham, United Kingdom

▬ Episode links ▬

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sunladylou/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildlifeworldschool/ 
• Adults & Teen retreats in Egypt Website: www.amentirebirthretreat.com 
• Teens Retreats & Programmes in Egypt: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1104096590672734/

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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
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Jack Stewart is a grown-up homeschooler who now homeschools his kids. We met Jack at HEFF in 2024 and enjoyed talking with him. This is our second episode with Jack, and you should consider starting with the first episode we recorded together. 

In this episode, we sit down with Jack Stewart to discuss how technology affects our daily lives and how setting boundaries around internet use can improve emotional well-being. Jack introduces the idea of technology as a "social appetite suppressant," explaining how it can fill emotional gaps but also lead to a lack of real-world connection. Together, we explore strategies for creating healthier habits around technology.

We also dive into homeschooling and unschooling, focusing on how families can manage education outside of the traditional system. Jack shares his passion for Plato’s philosophy and explains how it inspired the development of his educational board game. The game combines art, languages, and math to help learners connect different subjects and holistically explore education.

If you’re interested in improving your tech habits, learning more about homeschooling, or curious about using educational philosophy in creative projects like game design, this episode offers practical insights and real-life examples.

🗓️ Recorded October 4th, 2024. 📍 The Addisons, Withyham, United Kingdom

▬ Episode links ▬

Jack is no longer active on the internet. If you want to connect, then write to him at [email protected]. If you want to sneak peek at some of Jack's old stuff from when he was active on the internet, then you can check out:

• https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jack-stewart5
• https://www.youtube.com/@daddyhomeschools5710
• https://blog.sonlight.com/author/jack-stewart

 

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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
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Jack Stewart is a grown-up homeschooler. We explore how self-paced learning has shaped his social life and personal development. Jack’s upbringing was guided by his mother’s approach to homeschooling, which fostered meaningful friendships and an entrepreneurial spirit that set the stage for his success. These early experiences of forming deep connections outside traditional settings have carried through to his adult life.

Jack also shares his thoughts on the balance between structured activities and free play and how family-centered, attachment-based learning can sometimes offer advantages over conventional schools. His reflections challenge common perceptions of education and the social structures that accompany it.

Additionally, Jack talks about his move away from technology and how reducing his internet use has helped him form deeper, more authentic connections. From managing technology within his family to pursuing hands-on projects like music and board game development, Jack gives insight into a lifestyle that emphasizes focus, personal growth, and real-world interactions.

This conversation covers voluntary learning, the influence of community and nature in education, and the effects of living with less reliance on technology.

🗓️ Recorded September 19th, 2024. 📍 The Addisons, Withyham, United Kingdom

▬ Episode links ▬
Jack is no longer active on the internet. If you want to connect, then write to him at [email protected]. If you want to sneak peek at some of Jack's old stuff from when he was active on the internet, then you can check out:

• https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jack-stewart5
• https://www.youtube.com/@daddyhomeschools5710
• https://blog.sonlight.com/author/jack-stewart

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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

Erin Loechner is a writer, speaker, and the founder of The Opt-Out Family, a movement dedicated to helping families reduce screen time and foster deeper connections. She is the author of The Opt-Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can’t, a guide offering practical strategies to reclaim family life from the grip of technology. Erin's other books include Chasing Slow, a memoir about embracing mindfulness. A former social media influencer, Erin now lives a low-tech lifestyle with her husband and three children, sharing insights on her blog, Design for Mankind.

In this episode, Erin shares her journey of opting out of the technological influences and the American dream to form a family life centered around what they truly value. She discusses how her previous life as a social media influencer led her family to reevaluate their relationship with technology, resulting in a substantial reduction in tech use. Erin shares advice on creating engaging family activities free from screens, encouraging intrinsic motivation, and fostering a community supportive of low-tech living. This conversation delves into the challenges and triumphs of maintaining a balanced family life in an increasingly digital world.

🗓️ Recorded September 17th, 2024. 📍 The Addisons, Withyham, United Kingdom

 ▬ Episode links ▬
Erins website: https://designformankind.com
Books by Erin Loechner: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01IREYLUU

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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
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Shannon Hayes is a sustainable farmer, author, and chef from Sap Bush Hollow Farm in Upstate New York, where she and her family raise grass-fed livestock using regenerative agriculture. In addition to managing the family farm and café, Shannon homeschools her children and explores themes of slow living, sustainability, and joyful living in her writings and podcast.

In this episode, Shannon shares her unique perspective on balancing family life, homeschooling, and running a farm while reflecting on her daughters’ passion for sustainable fashion. Raised with thrift shopping and creative expression, her daughters have embraced fashion as an artistic and ecological statement.

Together, we dive into how they challenge mainstream consumerism and what this means for our families' homeschooling journey.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation on slow travel, family farming, and how to create a meaningful life rooted in joy, sustainability, and personal contentment.

🗓️ Recorded September 12th, 2024. 📍 The Addisons, Withyham, United Kingdom

Connect with Shannon Hayes:

• Website: http://theradicalhomemaker.net/
• Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B005ZD9C6U/allbooks

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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
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Lily Nichols is a renowned dietitian and best-selling author, an expert in prenatal nutrition, and advocates for real food and evidence-based approaches that empower parents to take control of their health.

We explore the critical link between a mother's metabolic health during pregnancy and her child's long-term wellness, including the irreplaceable role of long-term breastfeeding.

Are you struggling with blood sugar spikes and persistent cravings? Learn how a protein-rich breakfast can set the tone for balanced blood sugar levels throughout your day, reducing those intense cravings and hunger pangs. Our conversation is packed with practical strategies, like cutting back on treats and making healthier food choices easily accessible.

Up to 18% of pregnant women are affected by gestational diabetes. Lily provides expert guidance on maintaining a balanced macronutrient intake, prioritizing protein and vegetables, and ensuring excellent nutrient status before and during pregnancy. 

If you want to know more, check out the links below and read the first chapter of Lily's book, "Real Food for Pregnancy," for free. 

The episode was recorded on the breathtaking Holy Island of Lindisfarne, United Kingdom, where the Vikings first invaded the UK, an island you can only drive to in low tide. It was a great experience to visit, but it had a poor internet connection, so unfortunately, the audio quality of this episode is a little inadequate. 

🗓️ Recorded September 10th, 2024. 📍 The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, United Kingdom

 ▬ Episode links ▬

• https://lilynicholsrdn.com
• https://www.instagram.com/lilynicholsrdn
• https://www.facebook.com/PilatesNutritionist
• https://x.com/LilyNicholsRDN

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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
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Marc Wallert is a resilience expert, keynote speaker, and author best known for surviving a 140-day hostage ordeal in the Philippine jungle in 2000. Drawing on this life-changing experience, he helps individuals and organizations build resilience and thrive through crises.

Marc shares insights on leadership, mental strength, and stress management through his keynotes and his book, "Strength Through Crises," where he emphasizes the power of acceptance and optimism in overcoming challenges​(

Marc and his wife are fellow travelers; we have met them through the worldschooling community. When we first heard Marc's story, we knew that we wanted to record an episode with him.

In this episode, Marc shares the extraordinary story of being held hostage in the Philippine jungle. He recounts the life-changing experience of being abducted, the mental strategies that helped him survive, and how he turned a terrifying crisis into a source of strength.

Marc’s journey offers powerful lessons on resilience, personal growth, and navigating life’s toughest challenges.

🗓️ Recorded August 12th, 2024. 📍 Aviemore, Heathfield, United Kingdom

▬ Episode links ▬

https://marcwallert.com/en
https://www.facebook.com/SpeakerMarcWallert
https://www.instagram.com/marcwallert
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcwallert 

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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
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Rob Brinded is an experienced performance coach and healer specializing in the intricate connections between the mind, body, and spirit.

With a background in elite sports, including football, ballet, and combat sports, Rob developed a unique approach to injury prevention and rehabilitation, focusing on the holistic integration of physical and emotional health.

Over the past 25 years, he has explored how thoughts and emotions influence physical well-being, leading to his innovative energy medicine and posturology methods.

Today, Rob works with clients worldwide, helping them unlock their body's full potential by understanding and resolving deep-seated emotional imbalances. His work emphasizes the importance of staying present in the body, free from the limitations of the mind and spirit, to achieve optimal health and performance.

🗓️ Recorded August 12th, 2024. 📍 Aviemore, Heathfield, United Kingdom

▬ Episode links ▬

• https://www.robbrinded.com
• https://www.youtube.com/@MasterlessLife 
• https://x.com/RobBrinded 
• https://www.instagram.com/robbrinded
• https://www.facebook.com/RobBrindedPage 

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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
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In 2023, we spent a month at a castle in Normandy with over 30 other worldschooling families. There, we met Katia Dimova, the founder of Chateau Co-Living. We spend many long nights talking, laughing, sharing moments, and creating friendships. 

Katia founded Chateau Coliving, where she combines her passions for travel, history, and community. Originally from Bulgaria, she has lived in over 50 countries, often alongside her partner Emmanuel and their rescue cat Gipsy. Katia's journey has included leaving corporate life, managing humanitarian projects, and launching a design business as a digital nomad 

Nestled in the heart of Normandy, Chateau de L'Isle Marie is a 12th-century castle reimagined for the modern remote worker and travel enthusiast. This historic estate uniquely blends ancient charm and contemporary comfort, featuring workspaces, a gym, and lush gardens. 

It fosters a vibrant, collaborative community ideal for those who value cultural diversity and shared experiences. With a focus on environmental respect and social interaction, Chateau Coliving is the perfect setting for balancing work and leisure in a tranquil, inspiring atmosphere.

▬ Episode links ▬

• https://www.chateaucoliving.com
• https://www.instagram.com/chateaucoliving 
• https://www.instagram.com/mybohemianstories 
• https://www.facebook.com/chateaucoliving 
• https://www.youtube.com/@chateaudelislemarienormand6262 

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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
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Ken Honda is a renowned Japanese author and speaker celebrated for his personal finance and happiness expertise. Known as the "Zen Millionaire," he combines Eastern philosophies with practical financial advice to help individuals find peace and abundance. Ken has written over 50 books, including the bestseller "Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money," which explores transforming one's emotional relationship with money into a source of joy. His latest book, "True Wealth," delves into redefining wealth beyond material possessions, including emotional and spiritual prosperity. Ken Honda inspires people worldwide to achieve financial well-being and personal happiness through his writing and seminars.

Jesper first encountered Ken Honda through "Maro Up," co-authored with Janet Attwood. This book explores the Japanese concept of Maro, which signifies an open-hearted and generous spirit. Inspired by Wahei Takeda's philosophies, it delves into how embracing gratitude, kindness, and emotional intelligence can lead to greater happiness and success.

🗓️ Recorded August 6th, 2024. 📍 Pointe aux Oies, France

Links for this episode

• https://kenhonda.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/happykenhonda/
• https://www.youtube.com/@kenhondaofficial
• https://www.facebook.com/kenhondahappymoney/
• https://www.thepassiontest.com/maro-up

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Podcast website: https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed
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