The Fearless Homeschool Podcast with Micarle Callea

🎙️ In this follow-up conversation with Tamara Kidd, we continue exploring the world of Montessori homeschooling and the fundamental rights of the child. Tamara shares more insights from her 16 ½ years of experience as a solo homeschooling parent, ensuring her children received an education that truly met their individual needs.

✨ In this episode, we dive deeper into:

📌 The practical application of Montessori principles in a homeschool setting 🌱 How Montessori fosters independence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning 👩‍🏫 The role of the parent as a guide rather than a teacher 🤔 Addressing common misconceptions about Montessori education 🚀 Tamara's latest projects and initiatives in the homeschooling community

If you're looking for inspiration and guidance on integrating Montessori into your homeschool, this episode is packed with valuable insights! 💡

🔗 Stay connected with Tamara through her Linktree, and check out her previous summit workshops in the Fearless Membership, including Montessori Home Education and Removing Registration Stress to Focus on Real Home Education.

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/tamarakidd

Mentioned in this episode:

Summit Promotion!

Tickets are now on Sale for the Australian and New Zealand Homeschooling Summit 2026

I am excited to chat with Tamara Kidd this week. Tamara Kidd joins us to share all things Montessori Homeschooling. Tamara's primary passion has been inequity in education and the rights of the child. She home-educated her own two children for 16 1/2 years as a solo parent, aiming to always protect all of their rights, including the right to receive an education that met their individual needs.

In this chat, we discuss:

1. The Montessori Method, also known as Peace Education
2. Dr Maria Montessori in addition to her tireless work in education, also made meaningful contributions to the formation of the Declaration of the Rights of Child.
3. We briefly discuss the origins of the school system
4. Montessori's concept of freedom within limits
5. As well as Tamara's new exciting project

So much information... If you want to follow along on Tamara's journey, use her linktree to do so!

Learn more from Tamara via her previous summit worksjops with in the Fearless Membership. Including Montessori Home Education and remove registration stress and get on with real home education.

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/tamarakidd

Mentioned in this episode:

Summit Promotion!

Tickets are now on Sale for the Australian and New Zealand Homeschooling Summit 2026

In this second part of our conversation with Sara MacDonald from Happiness is Here, we dive even deeper into the realities of unschooling through the teen years.

🔹 Hear about the fears and doubts Sara encountered—and how she worked through them to stay true to her unschooling philosophy. 🔹 Learn how she balances freedom with intentional experiences, planning, and goal-setting. 🔹 Explore the magic of strewing and how it encourages curiosity and deep learning. 🔹 Gain insights into fostering a love of learning that lasts a lifetime, without pressure or rigid structures.

📚 Want more? Connect with Sara and explore her blog, social media, and workshops: 🌍 Blog: Happiness is Here 📘 Facebook: Happiness is Here 📸 Instagram: @sara_happiness.is.here

🚀 Exciting News! Sara will be speaking at the Australian and New Zealand Homeschooling Summit 2025 on "Strewing: It's More Than a Prettily Placed Resource!"

Don't miss it! Register here.

🔔 Listen now and subscribe so you never miss an episode! 🎙️✨

Mentioned in this episode:

Summit Promotion!

Tickets are now on Sale for the Australian and New Zealand Homeschooling Summit 2026

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Sara MacDonald from Happiness is Here as we explore the world of unschooling and how it unfolds in her home.

Sara is the creator of the website Happiness is Here, where she shares her family's journey of unschooling, respectful parenting, and living a life led by curiosity and connection. An unschooling mum of four daughters, she also runs a vibrant homeschool co-op in Australia, organising everything from book clubs and excursions to food and film festivals! Through her blog, social media, and resources, she advocates for children's rights, challenges conventional ideas about education, and supports families in embracing self-directed learning. Her work focuses on empowering parents to trust the natural learning process, foster strong relationships, and create meaningful, real-world learning experiences. She has also recently launched a subscription service, delivering inspiring and relevant homeschooling activities straight to families' inboxes each week.

1. Discover Sara's no-fuss, intuitive approach to homeschooling that makes learning feel natural and accessible.
2. Hear about the challenges she faced when unschooling through the teen years—and how she worked through them with confidence.
3. Learn how intentional experiences, planning, and goal-setting fit into an unschooling lifestyle.
4. Understand the power of strewing in nurturing curiosity and helping children explore their passions.
5. Gain insights into fostering a lifelong love of learning without rigid structures or fear of "falling behind."

📚 Want more? Check out Sara's blog, social media, and workshops to dive deeper into her approach. Fearless Homeschool Members, don't forget to explore her exclusive sessions in the Membership!

Blog: https://happinessishereblog.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/happinessishereblog

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/sara_happiness.is.here/

🚀🎧 You can connect with Sara, and if you haven't already, I highly recommend checking out her workshop as she will also be speaking at the Australian and New Zealand Homeschooling Summit "Strewing: It's more than a prettily placed resource!" in the Australian and New Zealand Homeschooling Summit 2025. https://tinyurl.com/ANZHS2025

Mentioned in this episode:

Summit Promotion!

Tickets are now on Sale for the Australian and New Zealand Homeschooling Summit 2026

Welcome to the second part of our chat with Penny Graham! 🎙️✨

We left off just after discussing how Penny chose to incorporate movement 🏃‍♂️ into her children's classical learning to help cement those basic number facts 🔢.

We rejoin with an observation 🤔 that leads Penny to discuss another philosophy 📚 that she has incorporated into her homeschool...

I hope you enjoy it! 😊🎧

You can connect with Penny below, and if you haven't already, I highly recommend checking out her workshop "The Joy of Family Learning" in the Fearless Membership Summit. 🚀🎧 Penny will also be speaking at the Australian and New Zealand Homeschooling Summit: https://tinyurl.com/ANZHS2025

Connect with Penny at.. 🌐 Website www.flourishhomeschool.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Summit Promotion!

Tickets are now on Sale for the Australian and New Zealand Homeschooling Summit 2026

🎙️ I am excited to chat with ✨ Penny Graham from Flourish Homeschool this week! 🎉

Penny is a 👩‍🏫 primary-trained teacher turned homeschooling mum of 4 (ages 8-14) and is now embarking on her 10th year of homeschooling. 🏡📚

In this chat, we discuss:

🔹 How Penny's realization that kindergarten was getting the best of her eldest—leaving her with a tired and out-of-sorts child at home—led her family to try homeschooling for a year.

📖 How she incorporates the philosophies of Charlotte Mason and Classical Education to shape her family's learning journey and culture.

🌿 The transformative impact of introducing a Steiner-inspired "Main Lesson" in their homeschool.

💡 Penny's advice on how to build your homeschool slowly and intentionally.

✨ Enjoy the episode!

You can connect with Penny below, and if you haven't already, I highly recommend checking out her workshop "The Joy of Family Learning" in the Fearless Membership Summit. 🚀🎧

🌐 Website www.flourishhomeschool.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Summit Promotion!

Tickets are now on Sale for the Australian and New Zealand Homeschooling Summit 2026

I am thrilled to start our Fearless Homeschool Podcast Journey with the wonderful Kelly Kotanidis. 🎙️✨

Kelly is nearing the end of her homeschooling journey with her 5 children and was the founder of Fearless Homeschool before moving on to her newest project, Business in Your Backpack. 🎒

In this chat, we explore:

📚 How the birth of Kelly's fourth child sparked her journey into homeschooling. 📖 How she immersed herself in a wealth of homeschooling books to learn as much as she could. 🏡 The influence of Charlotte Mason and the Classical Approach on the early years of her homeschooling experience. 🔄 Her ongoing need for flexibility and adaptability, particularly as her children entered their teen years. 🚀 What's next for Kelly in life and her professional journey.

You can connect with Kelly and follow her latest venture, Business In Your Backpack, below.

💡 Also, if you haven't yet, be sure to check out her workshop at the Fearless Membership Summit.

📚The Australian and New Zealand Homeschooling Summit: https://fearlesshomeschool.com/australian-new-zealand-homeschooling-summit/

"[Homeshooling is] Not just something we do because it's better for them, but it could actually be better for the whole family and give us a really fun life." - Kelly Kotanidis

Here's where to find more:

🌐 Website: https://businessinyourbackpack.com/ 🎧 Podcast: https://businessinyourbackpack.com/online-business-from-scratch-podcast/ ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@businessinyourbackpack

Mentioned in this episode:

Summit Promotion!

Tickets are now on Sale for the Australian and New Zealand Homeschooling Summit 2026

I am thrilled to start our Fearless Homeschool Podcast Journey with the wonderful Kelly Kotanidis. 🎙️✨

Kelly is nearing the end of her homeschooling journey with her 5 children and was the founder of Fearless Homeschool before moving on to her newest project, Business in Your Backpack. 🎒

In this chat, we explore:

📚 How the birth of Kelly's fourth child sparked her journey into homeschooling. 📖 How she immersed herself in a wealth of homeschooling books to learn as much as she could. 🏡 The influence of Charlotte Mason and the Classical Approach on the early years of her homeschooling experience. 🔄 Her ongoing need for flexibility and adaptability, particularly as her children entered their teen years. 🚀 What's next for Kelly in life and her professional journey.

You can connect with Kelly and follow her latest venture, Business In Your Backpack, below.

💡 Also, if you haven't yet, be sure to check out her workshop at the Fearless Membership Summit.

"[Homeshooling is] Not just something we do because it's better for them, but it could actually be better for the whole family and give us a really fun life." - Kelly Kotanidis

📚The Australian and New Zealand Homeschooling Summit: https://fearlesshomeschool.com/australian-new-zealand-homeschooling-summit/

Here's where to find more:

🌐 Website: https://businessinyourbackpack.com/ 🎧 Podcast: https://businessinyourbackpack.com/online-business-from-scratch-podcast/ ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@businessinyourbackpack

Mentioned in this episode:

Summit Promotion!

Tickets are now on Sale for the Australian and New Zealand Homeschooling Summit 2026