✨Ever wonder what would happen if you just… let nature be the teacher?

Today I’m joined by Roman — longtime homeschool dad, nature mentor, and one of the people who helped launch one of the very first K–12 forest schools in the U.S.

His homeschool journey started in the best way imaginable: one day in third grade his daughter came home from public school and casually announced, ‘Tomorrow I’m homeschooling.’ And that was that. Their days filled with river-picnic lunches, tandem-bike rides, bird-watching, and lessons that grew straight out of whatever sparked her curiosity that morning.

We get into what truly child-led learning feels like in real life, how to teach a whole group of different-aged kids with one simple stick (seriously), how to weave nature connection into city apartments or desert winters, and why building community is messy, sometimes lonely, but absolutely worth it.

Roman has this quiet, been-in-the-woods-a-long-time confidence that makes the whole thing feel… doable. Simple, even.

You’ll finish this episode feeling lighter, braver, and probably ready to take tomorrow’s school outside.

If you want to connect more with Roman you can find him on X and on his website.

If you found this episode helpful, please give me a 5 star✨ rating on your favorite podcast platform! It helps the podcast grow and reach more families.

Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.

✨What if letting your teen fail could be the key to their success?

In this episode, Bea shares her bold decision to pull her high school–aged daughter out of public school and begin a transformative homeschooling journey. What started as a response to bullying and lack of academic rigor became a story of resilience, freedom, and growth.

Bea describes the early challenges of relying on a restrictive public homeschool program before finding the confidence to create her own curriculum. A turning point came when she let her daughter fail a math class—an experience that taught responsibility and grit. Today, that same daughter owns land, thrives in her job, and is on track for management at just nineteen.

Bea’s message to parents is powerful: don’t fear failure, trust your child’s initiative, and shape education to fit their unique path.

✨If you need encouragement to trust your instincts or give your teen more ownership of their learning, this episode is for you.

If you found this episode helpful, please give me a 5 star✨ rating on your favorite podcast platform! It helps the podcast grow and reach more families.

Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.

✨What If Your Kids Could Take the Control of Their Education?

This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Alison and William, who homeschooled all three of their children through to college. Their greatest strength lies in how intentionally they taught their kids to take ownership of their education, building discipline slowly while nurturing a genuine love of learning.

All three children made a smooth transition to college, and Alison and William share the thoughtful steps they took to ensure that success. Along the way, we talk about how much curriculum you really need to complete and how sports became a vital part of their children’s education. One of them even went on to play college baseball.

I left this conversation feeling deeply encouraged by Alison and William’s calm confidence and authenticity. They’re truly special, and I hope you enjoy learning from them as much as I did.

🖋️If you want to learn more from Alison and Will, you can find them on X @myHomeSmithsER.

If you found this episode helpful, please give me a 5 star✨ rating on your favorite podcast platform! It helps the podcast grow and reach more families.

Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.

✨Are you trying to catch your kid up from a poor public school experience? OR

Trying to help a child with severe anxiety find their way in the world? OR

Are you interested in hybrid homeschooling?

This episode packs a punch friends! Today, I talk with Pepper, a Las Vegas homeschooling mom, about the real, messy, beautiful work of guiding three very different kids. First, she tell us how she caught her oldest son up from a bad public school experience, helping him find his way back to curiosity and confidence so much so that he ended up teaching a lot of the high school classes he attended. Pepper also successfully navigated her youngest crippling anxiety by going basics and using unschooling as a guide. Finally, she talks how she used hybrid homeschooling to create a well rounded education for all three.

Pepper’s story is raw, real, and deeply instructive. It shows parents how to meet children where they are, reignite their love of learning, and build resilience.

Her story reminds parents that homeschooling isn’t about perfection—it’s about helping each child learn in the way that works best for them.

PS.🔥Did you know there are downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, and more?!?

Click below for show notes from this and all episodes👇

Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.

✨Do you ever wonder how to give your kids more independence—without letting academics slip?

In this episode, I talk with Michelle Brock—a second-generation homeschool mom who educated her three children from kindergarten through high school. Michelle strikes a rare balance: she nurtured her kids’ individual interests while maintaining a strong academic foundation. When her son was interested in birds, she got him a college level textbook. Michelle talks about what it means to be an “educational broker” for your kids, how she helped find outside resources to fill in her gaps, and how personalized learning doesn’t have to mean anything-goes. Michelle’s approach is a masterclass in giving kids freedom within structure—producing learners who are joyful, self-directed, and deeply prepared for life after homeschool.

If you’ve ever wondered how to do child-led learning without sacrificing depth, this one’s for you.

🖋️If you’d like to connect with Michelle, you can find her on her website and X.

If you found this episode helpful, please give us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast platform. It helps others find us!

🔥Did you know there are downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, journal prompts, and more?!?

Click below for show notes from this and all episodes.

Exclusively for my favorite people👇

Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.

✨What does it look like to be the steady one—the grounding force—in a homeschool?

In today’s episode, I talk with Chris, a father of four who homeschooled his kids through high school while juggling military relocations, teen dynamics, and unexpected life turns.

Chris shares how he learned to support his wife through annual burnout, to offer consistency in a constantly changing world, and to keep showing up even when homeschooling felt uncertain or off-track.

This is a story of quiet leadership—the kind that doesn’t seek the spotlight, but builds a strong foundation. We talk about structure, character, trust, and the long arc of parenting kids who grow into their own stories.

I recorded this episode during a particularly hard time and Chris’s words of wisdom telling me that they wanted to quit every spring rang true to me. It helped me think about how I could run our homeschool life differently to reduce burnout and focus on creating beautiful memories.

Whether you're in a season of doubt or just trying to bring steadiness to your homeschool, this one’s for you.

If you found this episode helpful, please give us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast platform. It helps others find us!

🔥Did you know there are downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, journal prompts, and more?!?

Click below for show notes from this and all episodes.

Exclusively for my favorite people👇

Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.

✨Wondering what homeschooled kids really think once they grow up?

In this vulnerable and wisdom-rich episode, I sit down with Kathryn Fogleman-White - a homeschool alumna, certified life coach, author, and now homeschooling mom - oh and the eldest daughter of the incredible Dawnita Fogleman from our first episode. Kathryn grew up the oldest of six on an rural Oklahoma farm. School looked like rich literature, dog training, farm chores, budget spreadsheets, and finishing math before lunch. But it wasn’t all dreamy freedom—she also wrestled with parentification, self-neglect, and the cost of growing up too fast. Now raising a daughter of her own, Kathryn shares what she’s keeping, what she’s changing, and how she’s building a family life around values like financial freedom, flexibility, and honest connection.

If you’re wondering how homeschooled kids turn out — this one’s for you.

🖋️Connect with Kathryn on her website and X. You can also hear from her mother in our first episode Secrets of a Pioneer Homeschool Mom!

If you found this episode helpful, please give us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast platform. It helps others find us!

🔥Did you know there are downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, journal prompts, and more?!?

Click below for show notes from this and all episodes.

Exclusively for my favorite people👇

Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.

Listen above or on Apple, Spotify, or Pocketcasts

✨What does education look like when it’s driven by curiosity, not curriculum?

Today, I talk with the incredible Kerry McDonald—a Harvard-trained economist, author, and unschooling mom of four—for a rich and honest conversation about educational freedom.

Kerry shares how a chance encounter with a homeschooling family turned her life upside down, sparking a journey away from traditional schooling and toward self-directed education. From her daughter teaching herself to read at four, to navigating teenage years without coercion, Kerry walks us through what it really looks like to trust your child—and yourself.

If you’ve ever wondered whether kids can really learn without being “taught”, this conversation is for you.

We also dive deep into the growing microschool movement and show you why so many families are stepping outside the system to build something better.

🖋️If you’d like to connect with Kerry, you’ll find her at her podcast website. You can also buy her new book Joyful Learning available TODAY!

If you found this episode helpful, please give us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast platform. It helps others find us!

🔥BONUS! Downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, journal prompts, and more!

Exclusively for my favorite people👇

Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.

This post was incorrectly marked paid only. The podcast is always free - especially this episode! I’ve deleted the prior post. My apologies for the mistake and the second email in your inbox.

Listen above or on Apple, Spotify, or Pocketcasts

✨Are you homeschooling kids with dyslexia and wondering if they'll ever thrive as readers and learners?

Meet Jessica Kulynych —a mom who accidentally fell into homeschooling and ended up transforming the lives of her three dyslexic children. Faced with delayed reading, dysgraphia, and emotional sensitivities, Jessica refused to give up. Instead, she became an expert - researching relentlessly, embracing Orton-Gillingham, and crafting a flexible classical-eclectic approach that met her kids exactly where they were. Today, her children are thriving adults in love with reading.

Jessica is a warrior mom whose story left me in awe of what dedicated homeschooling can achieve. If you're dealing with dyslexia, Jessica’s story will give you hope, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose.

🖋️Connect with Jessica Kulynych on her Substack An Unexpected Difficulty or enjoy her article Homeschooling Dyslexia: Lessons from 20 Years of Trial and Triumph.

🔥BONUS! Downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, journal prompts, and more!

Exclusively for my favorite people👇

If you found this episode helpful, please give us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast platform. It helps others find us!

Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.

Listen above or on Apple, Spotify, or Pocketcasts

✨Are you homeschooling kids with dyslexia and wondering if they'll ever thrive as readers and learners?

Meet Jessica Kulynych —a mom who accidentally fell into homeschooling and ended up transforming the lives of her three dyslexic children. Faced with delayed reading, dysgraphia, and emotional sensitivities, Jessica refused to give up. Instead, she became an expert - researching relentlessly, embracing Orton-Gillingham, and crafting a flexible classical-eclectic approach that met her kids exactly where they were. Today, her children are thriving adults in love with reading.

Jessica is a warrior mom whose story left me in awe of what dedicated homeschooling can achieve. If you're dealing with dyslexia, Jessica’s story will give you hope, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose.

🖋️Connect with Jessica Kulynych on her Substack An Unexpected Difficulty or enjoy her article Homeschooling Dyslexia: Lessons from 20 Years of Trial and Triumph.

🔥BONUS! Downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, journal prompts, and more!

Exclusively for my favorite people👇

If you found this episode helpful, please give us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast platform. It helps others find us!

Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.