On this episode of the Journey to Purpose Podcast, unschooling advocate Kristen Himm shares how she walked away from her career as a public school teacher and chose a radically different path for her own children — one led by curiosity, freedom, and self-directed learning.

Kristen explains the core principles of unschooling, how it differs from structured alternatives like Montessori, and why following a child's natural interests is not just a valid educational approach — it's a deeply powerful one. She addresses the socialisation question that every unschooling family faces, discusses how to build the rich environments that make child-led learning thrive, and tackles the very real question of what happens when an unschooled child wants to pursue higher education. As the future of education continues to evolve, this conversation offers a thought-provoking look at what learning can look like when we trust children to lead.

Key Topics

• What unschooling actually is: the philosophy, the principles, and what a typical day might look like
• Unschooling vs. Montessori and traditional education: key differences and why unschooling takes child-led learning furthest
• Socialisation and confidence: how unschooled children develop socially and why this common concern is often misplaced
• Creating a rich learning environment: the parental role in unschooling and how to support curiosity-led exploration at home
• Unschooling and higher education: navigating university, qualifications, and the wider world as a self-directed learner

About Kristen Himm
Kristen Himm is an unschooling advocate and former public school teacher who chose to educate her children outside the traditional school system. Drawing on both her professional background and lived experience as an unschooling parent, she helps families understand and embrace self-directed learning as a path to raising confident, curious, capable children.

Journey to Purpose Podcast | unschooling | Kristen Himm | self-directed learning | home education | alternative education | unschooling vs Montessori | child-led learning | homeschooling | natural learning | future of education

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Journey to Purpose is a personal transformation podcast featuring real conversations about mindset, trauma recovery, self-worth, spiritual awakening, resilience, and finding your life’s purpose. New episodes every week. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Of0Na1qWovS8Aw2X2FU8M 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philippa.bagley/ 🌐 Website: https://philippabagley.com/ Subscribe and leave a review — it helps others find the show.

About your host
Pippa Bagley is a clinical hypnotherapist specialising in burnout and sleep, and the host of Journey to Purpose. Based in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, she is passionate about helping people reconnect with what truly matters — and build lives and careers that feel genuinely sustainable. Pippa is also studying for an MSc in the Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health at King’s College London. Find out more at philippabagley.com