The lovely and powerful  Julie Piatt– my sometime co-host and all-time wife — returns to the show today to share some interesting perspectives on children’s education — more specifically, homeschooling.  And even more specifically, the Unschooling method of homeschooling.

I know.  It’s controversial.  I get it.  But the subject also brings to mind one of my favorite quotes from one of the brightest minds of Victorian England – scientist, philosopher and theologian Herbert Spencer.  It appears in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, and goes like this:

“There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance — that principle is contempt prior to investigation.”

Translation – listen with an open mind.  Because growth, change and expansion cannot occur without doing so.

Other topics on today’s episode agenda include:

My recent speaking engagements in Toronto and Tucson ;

My increased involvement in an exciting new documentary project entitled Game Changers  about plant-based athletes, currently in production — produced by former podcast guest James Wilks ( Episode 16 ) and some of the people that brought you Forks Over Knives ;

Witnessing  Patrik Baboumian’s world record-setting strongman lift & carry in Toronto;

My impending visits to Karachi, Bahrain and Casablanca to spread the PlantPower message;

Creating a PlantPower Halloween Movement; and

Beyond Meat’s quest to disrupt Big Food with its perfect plant-based chicken and beef alternatives.

During our conversation, Julie references Sir Ken Robinson and his opinions about our education system.  I can’t urge you strongly enough to take a few minutes to watch his powerful TED Talk on how schools kill creativity.  There is a reason it’s the most watched TED Talk of all time (almost 18 million views), so please take the time to open your mind to this:

And here’s my view through my trusty GoPro of Vegan Strongman Patrik Baboumian carrying 1216 pounds for 10 meters, breaking a Guinness Book of World Record for most weight ever lifted by a human being – ever.

SHOW NOTES

* “Game Changers” documentary featured in Queens Courier:  http://queenscourier.com/2013/vegan-arm-wrestler-wants-to-bust-myth-that-men-need-to-eat-meat/

* Unschooling – Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unschooling

* Sir Ken Robinson’s TED Talk: How Schools Kill Creativity: ...