Best Wiley Connected Podcasts (2025)

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314. Two Honest Thoughts About Tech in Homeschool 41:45

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28m ago41:45

41:45

Is tech quietly running your homeschool? In this episode, we explore what happens when we trade the shared adventure of learning at home for one-child-one-screen schooling. We look at why so many of us feel pressured to meet standards, how online platforms promise to “save” us, and what our kids might be losing when learning is reduced to logins, s…

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"Creativity is Everyone's Superpower." A Conversation with Wiley Author and CEO Advisor Leslie Grandy 43:18

5d ago43:18

43:18

Award-winning author, speaker, and CEO advisor Leslie Grandy guides teams, companies, and product leaders to leverage their creative thinking to elevate their organizations. She's worked across the entertainment, retail, and IT industries for the big giants whose names you'd know (including Amazon, Oracle, and Apple.) Although her book, "Creative V…

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313. Perspective in Learning 55:59

7d ago55:59

55:59

What if the key to helping your kids love learning is simply seeing the world through their eyes? In this episode, we explore perspective as the secret sauce of education and connection. We begin with Steven’s unforgettable appreciation letter to UPS (and the jaw-dropping chocolate response!), then move on to practical ways to help kids imagine oth…

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312. Writing Stations 27:42

14d ago27:42

27:42

Julie Bogart and Melissa Wiley return with a heartwarming episode all about writing stations---simple, inviting setups that help kids discover the joy of putting pen to paper. Inspired by Melissa's son Steven, who has turned letter-writing into an art form, the hosts explore how authentic writing can become a beloved ritual rather than a chore. Fro…

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"Life, Writing, and LinkedIn are just a series of Experiments." Content Creation Coach Cynthia Trevino on the confidence that comes from daring to stand out 32:57

6d ago32:57

32:57

Not often do I meet a fellow writer, entrepreneur, and problem solver like Content Creation Coach Cynthia Trevino. We met via LinkedIn after she liked something wild I put out there (a hype video for a workshop). I noticed her pithy, powerful title and headline she'd wisely crafted and invited her in for a chat. I love that Cynthia has reinvented, …

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311. An Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life: Don’t Miss This One! 52:46

25d ago52:46

52:46

Julie Bogart and Melissa Wiley reunite to reflect on one of Charlotte Mason’s most enduring ideas: that *education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life*. What begins as a heartfelt story about a cozy childhood home becomes a rich conversation about the environments we create for learning—spaces that invite participation, curiosity, and joy. T…

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310. High Tide Homeschooling with a Teen 49:38

1M ago49:38

49:38

Melissa Wiley takes the mic solo this week for a heartwarming look inside her current homeschool life with her youngest, sixteen-year-old Huck. Drawing from her decades of experience as both author and homeschooling mother of six, Melissa walks listeners through a day in the life of their family’s “tidal homeschooling” rhythm—where structured “high…

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Steven Puri on Finding our Flow, Meeting Management, and Connecting with Remote Audiences 30:23

20d ago30:23

30:23

Entrepreneur, almost new dad, and tech leader Steven Puri knows a lot about remote teams and work. He's led remote teams across multiple huge companies (including Fox, DreamWorks, and Sony) for 20 years. He's a daily yogi, an almost new dad, and also launched the Sukha Company helping remote workers focus, finish faster, and feel healthier. We disc…

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309. Redefining Homeschool with Alisha Brignall from Canada 47:14

1M ago47:14

47:14

Welcome back to the Brave Writer Podcast! This week, Julie sits down with Alisha Brignall, a Canadian homeschooling veteran and educational leader with over 15 years of experience guiding families through their unique learning journeys. With a Master’s in Education and her work as a Home Education Manager at an independent school, Alisha brings a w…

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308. Julie’s Brief History of Homeschooling 30:52

2M ago30:52

30:52

Julie takes us on a sweeping journey through the history of homeschooling, weaving together her own story with the larger movement that reshaped education in America. From the experimental classrooms of 1970s California to the early legal battles of the 1980s and the faith-driven conventions of the 1990s, Julie shows how homeschooling evolved from …

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Actor, writer, and technologist Patrick Chou on improv as an antidote to public speaking fear in any conversation 28:52

1M ago28:52

28:52

My guest this episode is Patrick Chou. His career path has included a PhD from MIT and a thriving Silicon Valley career in the optical telecom business where he understands both the technology and business of pluggable optics. Patrick's also a writer and actor, which helps feed (along with his technology work) a quest to better understand how human…

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307. Italy, Literature, and Learning Connections 48:35

2M ago48:35

48:35

Julie is back from her two-week trip to Italy (with a quick stop in Copenhagen!) and brings stories that weave together travel, literature, and layered learning. From visiting her aunt on the Mediterranean coast to finally stepping inside Florence’s Santa Croce—20 years after promising herself she would—Julie shares how books like A Room with a Vie…

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306. Challenge Accepted: An Interview With Chris Balme 53:35

2M ago53:35

53:35

One of the major perks of homeschooling is that the middle-school years can be about adventure instead of awkwardness. In this episode, Melissa chats with author Chris Balme about his book Challenge Accepted: 50 Adventures to Make Middle School Awesome. Balme’s book invites young readers to discover how trust, agency, and meaningful challenges tran…

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"There will always be someone who can't see your worth. Don't let it be you." Neeraj Juneja on storytelling and getting teams and leaders to connect 22:37

2M ago22:37

22:37

One thing I love about being a coach? Meeting other coaches, who are often just the loveliest, upbeat people--and thoughtful too. Coach Neeraj Juneja is a favorite new coaching friend this year who has already taught me so much. For ~20 years, Neeraj has worked at American Express, BCG, NatWest, and Axis Bank and has coached leaders for the last 6+…

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305. Can Screens Benefit the Whole Family? with Ash Brandin 1:10:11

2M ago1:10:11

1:10:11

Do you ever catch yourself treating screens like contraband—tolerated in tiny doses, never to be openly celebrated? Ash Brandin, author of Power On: Managing Screen Time for the Benefit of the Whole Family, urges us to view screens as morally neutral and to focus on how they can serve the whole family’s needs. In this episode, Ash shares their “Scr…

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304. Teens and Books: A Deep Dive With Dawn Smith 58:47

2M ago58:47

58:47

Do you ever wonder how to keep teens reading—joyfully, deeply, and on their own terms? In this conversation with Brave Writer Director of Publishing Dawn Smith, we explore practical ways to sustain a teen’s love of books: continuing read-alouds, using buddy-reading systems with sticky-note annotations, deciding when a movie should come before (or a…

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Consuelo Amat on state repression, developing civil society in authoritarian regimes, and showing empathy for those who emerge from them 27:44

2M ago27:44

27:44

My guest this week is John Hopkins University professor Consuelo Amat whose research interests include state repression, armed and unarmed resistance, political violence, and developing civil society in authoritarian regimes, with a focus on Latin America. In a delightful conversation, a first-time meeting, Consuelo tells us what started her on thi…

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303. Introducing Monday Morning Meetings: a Brave Writer Podcast for Kids 20:30

3M ago20:30

20:30

Do you ever wish your homeschool week started with momentum instead of Monday drag? We’ve found that small, doable invitations right at the start of the week prime kids for curiosity, competence, and follow-through. Think five minutes of inspiration that launches hours of self-directed learning—no elaborate prep required. In our work with families,…

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302. A Former Teacher’s Take on Homeschooling with Meredith Reyes 51:53

3M ago51:53

51:53

Have you ever wondered why a classroom teacher who loved her job would leave it all behind to homeschool? That’s the story of Meredith Reyes, known as @TheStringyMama. In this episode, Meredith shares what she learned teaching in California and Texas, why an unannounced active-shooter drill became the tipping point for her family, and how she’s nav…

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How to be Brief With Your Brag 20:44

3M ago20:44

20:44

Requests for updates on our work can startle and befuddle us as communicators. Much pressure exists: We must be brief, clear, and on point with what the requester of information needs and wants. Communications strategy and self awareness on why we feel unconfident in that moment helps. This week’s episode shares all of that, including a framework f…

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301. A Gentle Rollout to Your Homeschool Year 50:27

3M ago50:27

50:27

One of the best parts of homeschooling is the freedom to start the year in a way that works for your family. Instead of overwhelming everyone with a full schedule on day one, you can begin with connection and fun—like a “Not Back to School” outing, a day of games, or a creative project. Personal notes to each child, wish lists of activities, and a …

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300. The 300th Episode (our best homeschool advice!) 52:20

3M ago52:20

52:20

Homeschooling isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection, curiosity, and adapting to your family’s needs. In this episode, we revisit three core principles that have guided our approach through the years: honoring spontaneous self-expression by jotting down our children’s words, remembering there are no educational emergencies (kids learn at thei…

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58 and Unapologetic. Jacqueline Freeman on living her best years and rising up against ageism 39:41

3M ago39:41

39:41

My guest this week is Jacqueline Freeman, a New Zealander TV industry insider, a media strategist, and the unapologetic voice behind a platform thats rewriting what relevance looks like after 50. After her posts speaking out against ageism went viral, reaching 1 million views (and counting) her podcast interview with the Sage Sayers is her first af…

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299. Would You Let a Chatbot Homeschool Your Child? 56:37

4M ago56:37

56:37

Do you ever wonder what’s at stake when we hand over our children’s education to automation and AI? In this episode, we explore how the rise of influencer-driven resources and tech-powered learning tools is reshaping homeschooling—and what we risk losing when we outsource the most human parts of education. We discuss why real learning thrives on me…

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298. Wise Effort with Diana Hill 52:24

4M ago52:24

52:24

Have you ever felt exhausted from giving your all, yet still worried you aren’t doing enough? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Diana Hill, clinical psychologist, podcast host, and author of Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most. Diana shares her refreshing, science-based approach to reclaiming our natural strengths a…

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Polly Leung on savings, financial planning, and cross-cultural learnings from Hong Kong and California 27:46

4M ago27:46

27:46

Polly Leung has long loved conversations on finance. She enjoys getting us talking and thinking about our money and planning ahead so we can enjoy our lives when retired, taking that time to travel. Her lesson on money came from growing up in Hong Kong and then starting over in her teens in California, US, moving here with her mother and siblings—a…

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297. Chronicle Your Homeschool Adventure 39:01

4M ago39:01

39:01

Do you ever find yourself wondering what you’ve truly accomplished in your homeschool? Chronicling—through blogs, scatterbooks, journals, quick notes, or even voice memos—offers families a way to celebrate growth, capture memories, and gain confidence in the learning journey. In this episode, we discuss the many forms of chronicling, how it transfo…

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296. Bad Writing Assignments 1:05:33

4M ago1:05:33

1:05:33

Do you ever wonder if the writing assignments your child receives are actually supporting their growth—or just making writing feel like a chore? In this episode, we explore why it’s not only okay but essential to judge and adapt writing assignments for your kids. We talk about how rigid or uninspiring tasks can stifle self-expression, why playful a…

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College Sharks Lee Norwood on being ourselves, standing out, and not worrying about application videos 21:07

4M ago21:07

21:07

Business owner of College Sharks Lee Norwood helps break down the complexities of college admissions for thousands of college students. And she loves the lessons the teens teach her on humility, storytelling, grit, determination--all which they need to enter a college that will take them places. In a lively, unscripted interview, Lee shares her seg…

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295. Brave Writer Lifestyles of the Educationally Rich 56:57

5M ago56:57

56:57

Do you ever wonder how to create a homeschool life that feels rich and connected, rather than just checking off boxes? In this episode, we explore the Brave Writer Lifestyle—moving beyond rigid schedules to routines that foster connection, flexibility, and joy in daily learning. We discuss how to anchor your days with simple routines, value real-li…