This Golden Hour

In today’s episode, we get to spend time with Cody Westheimer from Santa Barbara, California. Cody and his daughter, Malia, are the creators of Superpodkids, a children’s audio series about an orca named Kiko (superpodkids.com). Inspired by Cody’s encounter with wild orcas in Norway, the series combines family storytelling, original music, and sound effects to help children explore big feelings, try new things, and find reassurance in family connection. Cody shares the joys and challenges of collaborating with his daughter, emphasizing patience, flexibility, and keeping their creative time positive. Their project highlights how shared interests can foster deep learning through writing, character design, voice acting, and contributions from extended family. Above all, Cody reminds parents that success is not measured by audience size or commercial potential, but by the meaningful time spent creating and connecting with their children.

superpodkids.com

This Golden Hour

In today’s episode, we get to spend time with Paul Fisher and Suzanne Phillips from Radiant Mobile. Paul is a 35-year veteran of the fashion industry who left it all behind after the birth of his daughter. Suzanne Phillips is a homeschool mother and parenting ministry leader with over 20 years of experience. Together we discuss the ready-to-launch Radiant Mobile, the first-ever Christian mobile plan. Radiant Mobile blocks inappropriate content like pornography, hate speech, and racism at the network level, before it ever reaches your family's phones. And this service can't be bypassed or deleted by kids. Radiant Mobile includes parental controls like geofencing, scheduled internet access, and one-tap shut-off, plus a streaming platform of original Christian content featuring biblical stories, faith-based interviews, and gamified learning for children — all bundled into your existing carrier plan at no additional cost. Throughout the conversation, both guests return to the same theme — Radiant Mobile isn't the answer, faith is! But it's a practical tool that puts authority back in parents' hands and builds a fence around the darkness while filling the space with light.

Radiant Mobile

Radiantmobile.com

Book a Demo

Connect with Paul Fisher

@thereal.paulfisher

@radiant.mobile

Connect with Suzanne Phillips

beaconparent.com

The Informed Parent Podcast

This Golden Hour

In today’s episode, we get to spend time with Matt Mimnaugh from North Carolina. Matt is a homeschool father of four, supportive homeschool husband, and entrepreneur. According to Matt, one of the best ways a homeschool dad can support his wife and children is to “get out of the way.” This doesn’t imply passivity, but rather, homeschool dads can communicate and work with their spouse to make sure they are helping in the most desired ways. In our conversation, Matt and I discuss the father’s role as the protector of his family, the importance of consistent, open communication between homeschool couples, and the challenges our families face with cell phones and tech. Matt counsels fathers to trust and honor their wives' expertise and resist the urge to be controlling.

Connect with Matt:

https://www.youtube.com/@ManAndMaker

https://www.instagram.com/a.man.and.his.maker

This Golden Hour

In today’s episode, we get to spend time with Steve Pedersen from Alberta. Steve is a homeschool father of 11 children, Yale graduate in Public Health, and avid learner. Steve and I explore the six key roles of a proactive homeschool dad. Steve emphasizes that dads don't need to be the all-knowing authority; instead, the most powerful thing they can do is model a love of learning by discovering things alongside their kids. Alignment with your spouse is foundational — dads must be genuinely invested in the homeschool process to have credibility, contribute meaningfully, and support their spouse without adding to her insecurities or burnout. Being an advocate means championing your children as individuals and openly celebrating homeschooling rather than downplaying it out of insecurity. Steve's guiding family purpose — "helping our kids learn to love learning in their own best way" — captures the heart of the conversation: proactive homeschool dads don't need to do more, they just need to be more intentional.

Resources

Ken Robinson - Schools Kill Creativity

Thomas Jefferson Education

Rupert Ross 

This Golden Hour

In today’s episode, we get to spend time with Shellee Howard from California. Shellee is a mother of four, founder and creator of College Ready, author of two best-selling books, and the 2026 Global Educational Consultant of the Year. With over 18 years of experience and having visited more than 1,800 colleges and universities across 100 countries, Shellee knows what it means to prepare students to “adult” and how to effectively navigate the admissions process. All four of Shellee’s children graduated from post-secondary without debt from four different schools and paths. In this episode, Shellee shares the 7-step College Ready framework that she uses to help families and students prepare for higher education, career, and life. This conversation is a must-listen for parents wanting to prepare their children for life after homeschool, no matter what path they choose to pursue.

Books

How to Send Your Student to College Without Losing Your Mind or Your Money

The College Admissions PLAN Simplified

Website

College Ready 

Shellee’s Non-profit

Empower Education

This Golden Hour

In today’s episode, we get to spend time with Staci and Jeremy Hill from Missouri. Staci and Jeremy are homeschool parents of 6 children, authors of “The Preserver’s Garden,” and founders of Gooseberry Bridge Farm. The Hill’s started homeschooling from the very beginning, and their oldest is now in college without any traditional public education. About 10 years ago, the Hill family moved from their suburban cul-de-sac to a small farm so they could have animals, space, and learn from the land. They started their business, Gooseberry Bridge Farm, in 2020 with U-pick flowers, but they’ve expanded the business to engage each of their children’s participation. Staci and Jeremy were asked to co-author a book that combined gardening with food preservation strategies. This conversation validates that meaningful education happens through hard work, family connection, and following children’s natural interests.

Website

gooseberrybridge.com

Book

The Preserver’s Garden

This Golden Hour

In today’s episode, we get to spend time with Jon Couch from Southern Alberta. Jon is a homeschool father of six children, former IT tech, and entrepreneur. When he and his wife, Angela, decided to homeschool, Jon’s primary motivation was controlling the curriculum and avoiding what he considered dangerous ideologies in the public system. He has also had concerns about peer-driven socialization combined with access to cell phones and a world of unmonitored technology use. In our conversation, Jon shares his family’s core purpose centered on kindness, we discuss the homeschool and life division of labor between Jon and Angela, and Jon reveals the greatest challenge and greatest reward in his experience as a homeschool dad. This episode is a must-listen for all homeschool fathers and couples. 

This Golden Hour

In today’s episode, we get to spend time with Kait Feriante from Tennessee. Kait is a mother of three, one who has dyslexia and dyscalculi. Kait is a behavior specialist and the founder of Redwood Literacy, Redwood Schools, and Redwood Learning. Several years ago, Kait became a special education teacher and worked in Chicago Public Schools where she discovered many middle schoolers who couldn't read independently. Eventually, Kait and her husband started Redwood Literacy to help students manage their learning differences of dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. They have grown and have resources and mentors available to help students all over the US. In our discussion, we acknowledged that involved parents who read to and spend time with their kids help children with learning differences; but differences, like dyslexia, do require specialized attention. This is such an informative, helpful episode for all to understand more about dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia; and parents can learn about quality resources that Redwood Literacy offers children with learning differences. 

Connect with Kait

Redwood Literacy

Writing Our World

Free Parent Support Course

Other Resources

The International Dyslexia Association

Wilson Reading System

The Six Success Factors for Children with Learning Disabilities: Ready-to-Use Activities to Help Kids with LD Succeed in School and in Life

This Golden Hour

In today’s episode, we get to spend time with Todd Sarner from California. Todd is a father of one, psychotherapist, parent coach, and author of The Calm and Connected Parent. Early in his career, Todd worked with Dr. Gordon Neufeld, who wrote Hold On To Your Kids: Why Parents Need To Matter More Than Peers. Much of our discussion centered on attachment as the instinct to hold close those we hold most dear. Todd explained that children are biologically wired not to listen when they don't feel connected and that connection must come before direction in all parent-child interactions. He emphasized that proactive parents, which entails creating structure upfront, is more effective than reactive parenting. We need to be “papa bears” and “mama bears,” warm and firm, without being dictatorial. This means that we should protect and take care of our children instead of only trying to do whatever makes them happy in the moment. We also considered several threats to attachment. Listen closely to this enticing episode, and learn how to improve your parenting and the connection with your children.

Todd’s Website

https://transformativeparenting.com/

Other Website

https://drrebeccajorgensen.com/

Todd’s Book

The Calm and Connected Parent: An Attachment-First Guide to Raising Resilient Kids in the Age of Screens and AI

Other Books

Hold On to Your Kids

Simplicity Parenting

The Anxious Generation

Parenting from the Inside Out

This Golden Hour

In today’s episode, we get to spend time with Leah Ellis from Kansas. Leah is a mother of 4, previous homeschool mom, founder and executive director of The Society of Child Entrepreneurs, or SoCE, and the creator of the Astra and Zeke book series for children. She is all about empowering children through entrepreneurship. Leah discusses her background in homeschooling, emphasizing individualized education and the importance of letting children learn at their own pace. She highlights how her daughter’s desire for a traditional school experience led to a flexible approach based on each child’s needs. In our conversation, Leah encourages parents to let children progress at their own pace, avoid burnout, and recognize that learning happens everywhere—not just through formal curriculum. She stresses the value of practical, hands-on experiences and adapting teaching styles to each child.

Connect with Leah

The Society of Child Entrepreneurs (SoCE)

SoCE Facebook Page

Leah’s Book Series

Sparks to Stars: The Story of Astra & Zeke

This Golden Hour