Best Deschool Podcasts (2026)

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198 - When School-at-Home Homeschooling Stops Working 10:19

Play Pause

10h ago10:19

10:19

Text Sue what you think! When traditional homeschooling stops working, there’s nothing wrong with exploring your options. The Unschooling 101 mini-course can help. Let’s talk about what’s going on together. -> Unschooling 101 -> Creating Confidence Membership (Unschooling 101 is included) ___________________________ If you’ve been homeschooling for…

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#98 There is no one right way to live, with Stephanie McDowell in Texas 43:00

19h ago43:00

43:00

In this episode, I am talking with Stephanie McDowell. Stephanie lives in the US with her husband and five-year old daughter and is a former high-school teacher. Burnt out from her teaching career, she and her husband chose to homeschool their daughter, but Stephanie found the structure and school-focused ways of the homeschooling community an unco…

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Jeppe Trolle Linnet | Men, Vulnerability, and Masculinity in Transition 51:42

1d ago51:42

51:42

Anthropologist Jeppe Trolle Linnet explains how men’s fear of vulnerability is shaped by dominance, shame, and competition, drawing on years of work with men’s groups and recent field research in Greenland. He describes why men struggle to share pain, how loneliness and divorce intensify isolation, and how fatherhood, emotional listening, and commu…

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197 - Let Winter Be Winter: Resist Rushing into January 9:31

8d ago9:31

9:31

Text Sue what you think! This post-holiday stretch can make even confident homeschooling and unschooling parents second-guess everything. But winter isn’t the time to push harder — even though everything around us insists we need to ‘get back on track. So what if we took a different approach? If the last semester felt less than stellar, it may not …

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Victoria Lenormand | From Detective To Unschooling Advocate 52:56

16d ago52:56

52:56

Ex-detective turned homeschooler Victoria Lenormand describes leaving a policing career as it shifted from service to force and recognizing the same pattern in her son’s early schooling. In this conversation, she explains how grading, labels, and constant assessment eroded confidence, and how home education replaced pressure with agency, learning b…

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Nicklas Bergman | How to Stay Sceptical in an Algorithmic World 1:05:09

23d ago1:05:09

1:05:09

Nicklas Bergman is a deep-tech investor and technology explorer who focuses on how new tools shape everyday life rather than predicting distant futures. The episode examines AI, social media, and regulation through concrete examples from work, education, family life, and investing, with an emphasis on curiosity, skepticism, and personal judgment. 🗓…

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#97 Looking back—reflections on grown unschooled children, with Linda Velwest in New Jersey 37:37

27d ago37:37

37:37

In this episode I am chatting with Linda Velwest, who lives in New Jersey and has three adult son, now aged 26, 28 and 31, who were all unschooled for many years. It’s always lovely to talk with parents of adult unschoolers, and Linda reflects on their journey, the very different paths each child took and the many things that she and her family all…

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196 - Unschooling in December: What Typical Days Really Look Like 13:17

30d ago13:17

13:17

Text Sue what you think! Unschooling in December doesn’t mean “taking a break from learning.” In this episode, Sue Patterson shares what typical unschooling days really look like during the holidays—slow mornings, cozy rhythms, spontaneous learning, busy outings, and the kinds of meaningful life experiences that traditional schooling often pushes a…

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195 - Confused About Unschooling? Let’s Talk It Out 4:36

1M ago4:36

4:36

Text Sue what you think! If you're having doubts or feeling overwhelmed, I have some options for you! You're not the only parent who enters December feeling confused about their homeschooling or unschooling choices. Sue Patterson shares nearly 30 years of experience here, offering reassurance and perspective. And even if you do need to pivot, you d…

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194 - The Unschooling Roller Coaster & Why You Shouldn't Ride Alone! 6:08

1M ago6:08

6:08

Text Sue what you think! Does unschooling feel like a roller coaster — some days confident, other days full of doubt? You’re not alone. This episode explores why the early stages feel so shaky and what actually helps parents feel steady again. We’ll talk about: • why deschooling feels so emotional and up-and-down • the hidden pressures that make yo…

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#96 Following a deeper knowing and letting go of systems that don’t serve us, with Ash Winton in Queensland, Australia 47:07

1M ago47:07

47:07

Today I am chatting with Ash Winton. Ash has lived in Queensland, Australia for the last 12 years, but is originally from Alaska, and is of the indigenous Tlingit people. She and her husband, who run a trail building company, have a four and half year old son, who they unschool and plan to continue doing so. Among lots of things, we talk about what…

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Susan Yao | From Teacher to Unschooler 44:07

1M ago44:07

44:07

Susan Yao is an educator, school founder, and advocate of self-directed learning. She previously served as Middle School Head at Friends Academy in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, following more than a decade of teaching. She co-founded the Vermont Village School, a community-based microschool emphasising student-led learning, autonomy, and community eng…

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193 - Your Thanksgiving Toolkit: 3 Tools to Handle Holiday Criticism 7:53

1M ago7:53

7:53

Text Sue what you think! Worried about family questioning your unschooling over Thanksgiving? In this episode, Sue Patterson shares a simple Thanksgiving Toolkit to help you stay calm, grounded, and confident when the tough questions come. Grab 3 practical tools to steady yourself, respond (or not respond) with clarity, and keep the holiday peacefu…

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192 - Staying Grounded During Holiday Stress (Unschooling Parents) 11:17

1M ago11:17

11:17

Text Sue what you think! The holidays can bring up all kinds of emotions — especially when you’re the unschooling parent walking into a room where everyone has an opinion. And even if people mean well, their questions can still hit tender spots or stir up old schooling fears. In today’s episode, we’ll talk about how to stay grounded when family mem…

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191 - When Your Child Plays All Day: Unschooling, Deschooling & Real Learning 7:52

2M ago7:52

7:52

Text Sue what you think! Ever wonder if you’re doing enough when your child just wants to play all day — Legos, trampolines, video games — and you’re trying to trust unschooling? In this episode, Sue Patterson from Unschooling Mom2Mom answers a real email from a worried parent and explains: Why this “all play” phase is normal during deschooling, Wh…

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#95 Thriving at 14, after school burnout, with Maddy in Somerset 46:41

2M ago46:41

46:41

I’m delighted to be chatting today with Maddy, who is a doctor and lives in Somerset with her husband and son who is 13 and daughter who is 14. Maddy’s daughter left school two years ago after beginning secondary school and not coping at all. Maddy talks about what burnout looked like for her daughter and how her daughter was able to slowly reconne…

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190 - Unschooling and Gratitude: Noticing What’s Going Right 6:29

2M ago6:29

6:29

Text Sue what you think! Feeling stretched thin — or wondering if you’re doing enough? You’re not alone. But I have something simple you can try: Let's look at Gratitude through and unschooling lens! In this episode, Sue Patterson from Unschooling Mom2Mom shares how shifting toward gratitude can calm the chaos and help you see how much is already w…

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Missy Willis | From Unschooling To Exams 1:00:27

2M ago1:00:27

1:00:27

What happens when unschooled teens meet college systems, exams, and external expectations? Jesper and Cecilie Conrad speak with Missy Willis about how adolescents raised with freedom step into formal learning without losing curiosity or confidence. The conversation follows family transitions, changing homes, and the moment when rigor and motivation…

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#189 - How to Start Unschooling (Without Trying Every Homeschool Method First) 4:35

2M ago4:35

4:35

Text Sue what you think! Thinking about unschooling but wondering if you have to “try everything else first”? You don’t. 💛 In this episode, Sue Patterson from Unschooling Mom2Mom shares a gentle pep talk for parents who feel called toward unschooling but still hesitate. Maybe you’re waiting for the right method, the right time, or the right confide…

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#94 Journeys from burnout to recovery, with Holly from South Wales 55:17

2M ago55:17

55:17

I’m really happy to be talking today with Holly from South Wales, who I first spoke to two years ago. We talk in depth about Holly’s experiences of accompanying her children through burnout and emotional distress. We talk about how unschooling can offer us the time and space to do this in a far more compassionate way than our society preaches, and …

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#188 - Unschooling Halloween: Everyday Learning in Disguise 6:16

2M ago6:16

6:16

Text Sue what you think! Unschooling + Halloween = real learning. 🎃 Discover how curiosity, culture, and connection replace curriculum this week with Sue Patterson’s gentle guidance. __________________________ No Need to Pause Learning — Halloween Is the Lesson! Ever wonder how you’re going to celebrate holidays — like Halloween or Día de los Muert…

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Kate McAllister | Nervous System Regulation: From Reaction to Response 52:54

2M ago52:54

52:54

Kate McAllister describes how nervous system regulation shifts behavior from reaction to response. The conversation maps how stress patterns shape daily life, from parenting and school to refugee camps and co-regulation through rhythm and presence. Breath, movement, and sensory grounding become practical tools for returning the thinking brain onlin…

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#187 But I Want a CHECKLIST! Letting Go of School Habits in Unschooling 10:10

3M ago10:10

10:10

Text Sue what you think! Watch Video Version Here Still searching for a checklist to prove you’re “doing it right”? In this episode, Sue Patterson breaks down why unschooling doesn’t come with boxes to check — and why that’s both scary and freeing. Join a coaching-call-inspired conversation about the brain’s habit of seeking structure, why we feel …

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Summer Jean | Unschooling - Living Without the Need to Prove Yourself 1:12:13

3M ago1:12:13

1:12:13

Summer Jean describes how growing up unschooled shaped her ideas of work, freedom, and value. She explains how her mother’s focus on connection over control helped her develop confidence in her own sense of rightness. The episode contrasts inner conviction with productivity as a measure of worth. 🗓️ Recorded October 16, 2025. 📍 Tarragona, Spain 🔗 R…

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#93 The courage to step into the unknown, with Claire Gillespie in Hertfordshire, UK 53:06

3M ago53:06

53:06

I’m delighted to welcome back Claire Gillespie, who was a guest on the podcast almost two years ago. Claire lives in the UK with her husband and two sons, who are 15 and 17, and who left the school system around six years ago. Claire now works as a coach and also runs a creative business called The Cardboard Shed. Today we talk about why it takes s…

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186 - Too Late to Unschool Teens? 9:17

3M ago9:17

9:17

Text Sue what you think! (Spoiler: It’s Not) 🎁 Grab the Free PDF: 20 Reasons It’s Time to Unschool Your Teen If your teen is burned out, unmotivated, or just done with school, you’re not alone. So many parents wonder if it’s too late to change direction — too late to repair connection, too late to make learning joyful again. Sue Patterson shares wh…

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Timmy Eaton | Choosing a Life with Golden Hours 1:07:08

3M ago1:07:08

1:07:08

Cecilie and Jesper Conrad describe how illness, travel, and questioning convention led their family from a more or less traditional path in Denmark—through a Freinet-inspired free school—to a fully unschooled, nomadic life. They explain how unschooling developed through practical choices, legal frameworks, and value-based reflection rather than ide…

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185 - How Kids Learn to Make Decisions — The Unschooling Way 6:38

3M ago6:38

6:38

Text Sue what you think! Autonomy doesn’t grow from obedience — it grows from real life experience. In this episode, Sue Patterson shares how unschooled kids learn to weigh pros and cons, think through choices, and develop real decision-making confidence. You’ll explore what cost/benefit thinking looks like in everyday life — from messy art project…

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Lise Damkjær | Life Is Easy—When We Allow It to Be 57:06

3M ago57:06

57:06

Co-creation unfolds when control gives way to trust. Life Is Easy grew from a shared intention among ten people who wrote together without plans or deadlines. The process reveals how purpose and openness can replace pressure, turning collaboration into a form of ease. 🗓️ Recorded September 30, 2025. 📍 Tarragona, Spain 🔗 Relevant links https://learn…

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#92 Unschooling our autistic children–finding joy in the unknowing, with Mariam Carter in Southern California 47:21

3M ago47:21

47:21

Today I’m with Mariam Carter who lives in Southern California with her husband and two sons, who are 12 and 9. Their oldest son is autistic and the family’s jouney to unschooling journey began during the pandemic. Mariam describes the shift she had to make from equating life success with academic achievement, what it means to trust the journey when…

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#184 - Shaky Start? Pivot Homeschool to Unschooling (+ Q & A) 25:16

3M ago25:16

25:16

Text Sue what you think! Shaky start with homeschooling? You’re not failing—the plan is. Sue Patterson shares how to pivot from “school at home” to unschooling with confidence, reframe the “basics,” and calm the September wobble. + Q&A and resources to help right now. ___________________________ LAST DAY SALE Unschooling Mom2Mom Parent Toolkit: ALL…

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Jamie Rumble | Nomadic Becoming in the Anthropocene 1:15:48

3M ago1:15:48

1:15:48

Jamie Rumble shares his research on digital nomadism in the era of climate change. We explore how mobility, mental health, and community connect—and what nomads can teach about resilience. 🗓️ Recorded September 22, 2025. 📍 Åmarken, Lille Skendsved, Denmark 🎙️ Listen to: First episode with Jamie Rumble: https://www.theconrad.family/selfdirected127 S…

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#183 Am I Doing Enough? When Curriculum Isn’t Working Like You Hoped 9:52

3M ago9:52

9:52

Text Sue what you think! Worried you’re not doing enough as an unschooling parent? In this episode, Sue Patterson tackles common doubts about reading, math, technology, and “falling behind.” Learn how to reframe fears, spot real learning, and build confidence — plus hear about the Unschooling Parent Toolkit - with 25 Guides - to help you every step…

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#182 - School Skipped These Lessons - but Life Didn't! 8:00

4M ago8:00

8:00

Text Sue what you think! We spent 12 years in school but left unprepared for real life — because school skipped the lessons that actually matter. In this episode, Sue Patterson shares 10 life skills adults wish they had learned in school, from money management and stress relief to media literacy and relationships. You’ll also hear how unschooling g…

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Kate McAllister | The Human Hive: Building Communities of Purpose and Learning 20:23

4M ago20:23

20:23

Kate McAllister shares her journey from traditional teaching in the UK to creating The Human Hive in the Dominican Republic. We talk about learning through global projects, raising children outside the standard map, and what it means to discover that there are no dragons when you step off the expected path. 🗓️ Recorded September 10, 2025. 📍 Åmarken…

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#91 From London to Silicon Valley, with Makeba Garraway, US 46:11

4M ago46:11

46:11

My guest today is Makeba Garraway. Originally from the UK, Makeba moved to Silicon Valley with her husband and two children who are now 12 and 9, seven years ago. They came to unschooling after realising that mainstream school did not feel like a good fit for their eldest and not finding any alternative either. Makeba worked as a doctor in the UK a…

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#181 How Unschoolers Learn the Basics Without Curriculum: Unschooling the 3Rs 8:03

4M ago8:03

8:03

Text Sue what you think! “I love unschooling — but I want my kids to know the basics first.” Sound familiar? If you're worried how your kids will learn those 3Rs — reading, writing, and math — especially if you choose to unschool, Sue Patterson will help you see how unschooling works WITHOUT wasting money on curriculum! Unschooling basics unfold na…

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Amanda Ashworth | Building Community: Creating a Worldschooling Hub in Goa 47:22

4M ago47:22

47:22

Amanda Ashworth shares how reading The Four Hour Workweek led her to question conventional success, homeschool her children, and eventually create the World Schooling Hub in Goa. She explains discovering her son’s hidden learning needs, why Goa became her family’s second home, and how the hub supports children, teens, and even parents through educa…

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#180 Strewing: Sparking Curiosity and Learning - without a lesson plan in sight! 6:03

4M ago6:03

6:03

Text Sue what you think! Say goodbye to “Am I doing enough?” panic and hello to everyday learning that feels light, doable, and fun! https://www.unschoolingmom2mom.com/strewing-calendars ___________________________________ This time of year, many parents feel the pressure to come up with a “plan” that keeps kids engaged without burning anyone out. …

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Leah McDermott of Your Natural Learner | Why I Chose Unschooling 57:33

4M ago57:33

57:33

What happens when a kindergarten teacher moves to teaching fifth grade and discovers that in just five years, the educational system has extinguished the light in children’s eyes? For Leah McDermott, this stark realization sparked a journey from conventional educator to unschooling advocate. In this episode we talk with Leah about her path out of t…

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#90 From falling apart to building something new, with Nicola Leyland, UK 41:13

4M ago41:13

41:13

My guest in this episode is Nicola Leyland. Nicola has two children who are now 19 and 17. Her journey to unschooling began when her son was just eight years old and had an accident that resulted in a brain injury. Nicola talks about her experience of seeing everything fall apart, and her son’s traumatic return to school, and the consequences of fo…

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Blake Boles | Escaping Routine: Deep Conversation and wanting a Galactic Commune 58:43

4M ago58:43

58:43

Blake Boles joins us to talk about his recent editorial, "I Don't Want a Nuclear Family, I Want a Galactic Commune - on the pursuit of quality conversation", which is about the decline of quality conversation and his resistance to the nuclear family model. We discuss the difference between daily logistics and real dialogue, why travel often brings …

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Chris Balme | Challenge Accepted: Turning Adolescence into Adventure Chris Balme 47:21

5M ago47:21

47:21

Adolescence is often seen as something to endure — awkward years full of turbulence and struggle. But what if these years could be a time of discovery, adventure, and growth? In this episode, Jesper and Cecilie Conrad talk with Chris Balme on the launch day of his new book, Challenge Accepted: 50 Adventures to Make Middle School Awesome. We were in…

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#89 Living in alignment: from school to unschool to worldschool, with Ivana Petersen in Denmark 43:16

5M ago43:16

43:16

My guest this episode is Ivana Petersen, who is from Croatia and her husband is from Denmark. They have three children who are 13, 10 and 7. They took their eldest two children out of school six years ago, feeling burnt out by the stress and lack of connection of modern life. Ivana describes the healing journey that took place as they searched for …

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#179 School “Lessons” Fueling Your Parenting Doubts? 9:07

5M ago9:07

9:07

Text Sue what you think! School taught us lessons we didn’t even realize we were absorbing—and they’re still messing with us today. Most of us didn’t realize it while we were sitting in classrooms—but school was teaching us a lot more than math and grammar. It was shaping how we see ourselves, how we parent, and even how we value creativity and cur…

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Sarah van Gelder | The Revolution Where You Live - Rebuilding Community in an Isolated World 50:39

5M ago50:39

50:39

How can we recover the essential human connections that make life meaningful and sustainable? How can we create a world where neighbors know each other's names, children play freely outdoors, and no parent faces the overwhelming challenges of raising children alone? Sarah van Gelder, founder of YES Magazine and author of "The Revolution Where You L…

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Hidden Voices Speak: An Anthology of Home Educated Voices 41:56

5M ago41:56

41:56

In this episode, we talk with Ben Feliz (14) and Addison Harding (13), home-educated children and contributors to the anthology “Hidden Voices Speak.” Addison came up with the idea for the book, Ben designed the cover, and they worked together with others to publish it. Both care deeply about children’s rights and wanted to respond to recent news s…

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#178 - What If Learning Isn’t Linear? Trusting the Spiral in Unschooling 3:08

5M ago3:08

3:08

Text Sue what you think! Do you ever wonder if your child is learning "enough"? Or worry that they’ve missed something important? Let's explore how learning actually unfolds—through spirals, not straight lines. Instead of a rigid, step-by-step sequence, unschoolers learn by revisiting ideas over time, layering understanding, and making meaningful c…

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What a Love-and-Grace-Based Home Really Looks Like 22:10

5M ago22:10

22:10

🕊️ How do you stay strong and still parent with compassion? Discover how a grace-based home can raise powerful, responsible kids without yelling, shaming, or lowering your standards. 🔗 Links & How to Support Unschooled Unleashed Synthesis Tutor: https://www.synthesis.com/tutor SAVE: Get a free month of Synthesis Tutor - enter the code and it will g…

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Unschooling and Worldschooling Has Changed Us | The Conrads in dialogue with Heidi & Andrew Schrum 1:17:02

5M ago1:17:02

1:17:02

We sit down with Andrew and Heidi Schrum, just three weeks away from starting their life as a full-time nomadic worldschooling family. They ask us direct questions about our seven years of unschooling and worldschooling. We discuss how the biggest changes happened in us as parents—not our children. We describe letting go of academic pressure, seein…