Best Cecilie Conrad Podcasts (2025)

1
126: Vanessa Woozley | Single Mom, Van Life, and Worldschooling 57:53

Play Pause

12h ago57:53

57:53

Send us a text What happens when a single mom chooses to reject conventional norms, embraces van life, and takes her daughter out of traditional education? Vanessa Woozley joins us to share her inspiring story of courage, resilience, and transformation. Vanessa’s adventure began with short trips, gradually evolving into full-time worldschooling in …

1
103 | Sankt Hans Special: Weird Danish History 38:06

2d ago38:06

38:06

Bonfires, jesters, glass kings, pirate royals. Danish history is weirder than you think. Released for Sankt Hans—Denmark’s midsummer celebration of fire and folklore—this episode brings the heat with tales that blur the line between fact and legend. Comedian Adrian Mackinder joins Derek, Brooke, and Conrad to explore everything from a court jester …

1
S2E10 | Is It Working? Wrestling with Doubt in Unschooling 1:36:40

5d ago1:36:40

1:36:40

Cecilie Conrad, Sandra Dodd, and Sue Elvis discuss doubt and fear in unschooling—where they come from, how they spread, and how to move through them without defaulting to school-based thinking. They explore the pressure of responsibility, the impact of lingering fears, and why letting go of outcomes helps build trust in both learning and relationsh…

1
125: Jack Stewart | What I Learned When I Turned Off the Internet: Real Life Begins 54:30

7d ago54:30

54:30

Send us a text When Jack Stewart turned off the internet, he discovered that digital connection often acts as a “social appetite suppressant”—satisfying on the surface, but not deeply nourishing. In this conversation, Jack explains how removing online distractions led him to seek out in-person connection, from literally knocking on neighbors’ doors…

1
102 | Denmark Expectations Versus Everyday Reality 24:56

9d ago24:56

24:56

Denmark consistently tops the world’s livability rankings—but what do those lists really tell you about life here? In this episode, Derek, Brooke, and Mike take a closer look at the glossy reports versus the everyday realities of living in Denmark. From healthcare hurdles to hidden costs and navigating local systems without a corporate package, the…

1
124: Jennie Germann Molz | The World Is Our Classroom: Extreme Parenting and the Rise of Worldschooling 52:34

14d ago52:34

52:34

Send us a text Sociologist Jennie Germann Molz joins the podcast to discuss her book The World Is Our Classroom: Extreme Parenting and the Rise of Worldschooling. Jennie is a professor at the College of the Holy Cross whose research explores mobility, technology, and alternative forms of family life. Drawing on both academic insight and her own exp…

1
101 | Becoming a Nearly Danish Dame: Brooke Fossey’s New Life in Denmark 33:59

16d ago33:59

33:59

🎧 Bikes. Buns. No Danish friends? Challenge accepted. Brooke Fossey, The Nearly Danish Dame, moved to Denmark for a one-month vacation—and never went back. What followed was a full-blown reinvention: from running a bagel business out of a bike in Boston to becoming a cheerleader for awkward, honest language learning on Instagram. In our conversatio…

1
S2E9 | Unschooling: How Do We Know They’re Learning? 1:48:06

19d ago1:48:06

1:48:06

What if we abandoned the question "How do we know they're learning?" and trusted that they are? In this conversation, Cecilie Conrad, Sandra Dodd, and Sue Elvis look closely at the fears that drive many unschooling parents to seek proof of learning—and why those fears may come from old conditioning rather than real concerns. They explore how learni…

1
123: Corianda Shepherd | Creating a Worldschooling Community in Spain 1:04:53

22d ago1:04:53

1:04:53

Send us a text After her eight-year-old son was expelled from school in the UK, Corianda Shepherd and her partner Joel left behind a life that no longer worked. They moved to rural Spain, bought the first house they saw, and slowly built Shepherd’s Rest—a worldschooling community where families live together, learn in nature, and reject the idea th…

1
100 | How to Handle Houseguests When You Move to Denmark (or Anywhere) 20:11

23d ago20:11

20:11

What happens when visitors overstay their welcome or were never really welcome to begin with? In this episode, we’re diving into the messy, funny, and sometimes awkward world of hosting guests, especially when you live abroad. Whether it’s friends booking a “free hotel” or well-meaning others who blur the line between visiting and moving in, expats…

1
122: Kute Blackson | The Magic of Surrender: Ego, Intuition, and the Power of Trust 58:33

30d ago58:33

58:33

Send us a text What if the real magic happens not when you push harder, but when you let go? We explore surrender as a powerful, often misunderstood key to living a fuller life. Kute Blackson is a transformational teacher and bestselling author of The Magic of Surrender. Known for his dynamic presence and multicultural background, he’s guided thous…

1
99 | From Ukraine to Denmark: Kateryna’s Story of War, Refuge, and Stand-Up Comedy 31:13

1M ago31:13

31:13

Kateryna fled Ukraine when the war began, but that was only the beginning of her journey. Now living in Denmark, she’s rebuilding her life one punchline at a time. In this episode, she tells Derek, Conrad, and Brooke how comedy helped her cope with trauma, how it feels to perform stand-up in a new country, and what it means to create joy when the w…

1
S2E8 | The Math Myth: How Do Unschooled Kids Learn Math? 2:19:11

1M ago2:19:11

2:19:11

In this episode, we explore one of the most persistent questions in unschooling: What about math? Cecilie, Sandra, and Sue examine the widespread belief that children can’t learn math without formal instruction — and explain why that belief doesn’t hold up. Cecilie reflects on the early years of home education in her family, the pressure to “cover”…

1
121: Lenore Skenazy | Free Play: The Lost Key to Childhood Development 37:12

1M ago37:12

37:12

Send us a text In this episode, we explore how modern culture has stripped childhood of the freedom it needs to thrive—and what can be done to bring it back. Our guest is Lenore Skenazy, author of Free-Range Kids and co-founder of the nonprofit Let Grow, launched with Jonathan Haidt, Peter Gray, and Daniel Shuchman to champion independence, resilie…

1
98 | Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid: The Strange Saga of Denmark’s Most Famous Statue 27:46

1M ago27:46

27:46

You’ve seen the Instagram photos and passed the crowds in Copenhagen, but how much do you really know about the Little Mermaid statue? In this episode, Derek, Mike, and Conrad have a laugh-filled discussion about the strange history of Denmark’s most iconic statue. From her origins in a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale to being commissioned by a …

1
120: Anna Vestlev Sandfeld | Why We Choose Unschooling 49:50

1M ago49:50

49:50

Send us a text What happens when your child simply won't fit inside society's educational box? When Anna Vestlev Sandfeld realized her son didn’t fit into the structure of kindergarten—and likely never would fit into traditional school—she and her husband chose unschooling. In this conversation with her cousin Cecilie and co-host Jesper, Anna refle…

1
97 | I Didn't Tell My Friends I Was Visiting Home, Now They're Mad 24:05

1M ago24:05

24:05

When you live abroad, visiting your home country can be a whirlwind—especially when you only have a few days. In this episode, we answer a real listener dilemma: Danielle, who lives in Odense, went back to Toronto for a short trip and chose to spend all her time with family. She didn’t tell her friends she was in town, and now… they’re upset. Derek…

1
S2E7 | Unschooling is Carried by Conversations 1:19:18

2M ago1:19:18

1:19:18

Dinner tables, car rides, bedtime chats, café corners—this episode dives into the real places where unschooling lives and grows. Cecilie Conrad, Sandra Dodd, and Sue Elvis examine how conversations—often unscheduled, informal, and unplanned—become the central structure of a learning life. They discuss the Danish tradition of the daily family dinner…

1
119: Amir Nathoo | Outschool: Passion, Not Curriculum, Is the Future of Education 28:15

2M ago28:15

28:15

Send us a text Outschool founder Amir Nathoo explains why education built on passion—not curriculum—may be the only way to truly prepare kids for a rapidly changing world. We talk about his shift from traditional schooling in the UK to building Outschool, how becoming a parent deepened his beliefs, and why interest-led learning offers more than jus…

1
96 | Culture Shock in Denmark: The 4 Stages No One Warns You About 33:06

2M ago33:06

33:06

Moving to a new country is more than learning the language and eating new food—it’s a full-body, emotional rollercoaster. In this episode, your hosts Derek, Brooke, and Mike break down the 4 stages of culture shock and share personal stories from their lives in Denmark—the excitement, the frustration, the weird in-between moments, and finally… that…

1
118: David Cole | Questioning Normal – Our Offbeat Life as a Full-Time Traveling Family 41:05

2M ago41:05

41:05

Send us a text Ever wondered what life could look like if you broke free from the conventional 9-5? David Cole and his family sold their home in Chicago in 2019 and haven’t stopped moving since. Cecilie and Jesper talk with him about how they made the shift from occasional travellers to full-time nomads. "I think what stopped us the most was mindse…

1
95 | Cecilie Bau on Dating, Coming Out, and No Such Thing as Oversharing in Denmark 27:10

2M ago27:10

27:10

In this episode you'll get to know the brilliant Danish comedian Cecilie Bau, who also happens to be our special guest for our upcoming live show! She sits down with Brooke, Conrad, and Derek to talk about dating in Denmark, coming out, and how it's all just comedic inspiration. We also dive into her work as a mental health advocate and how the sti…

1
94 | Why You Can't Name Your Baby 'Banana' in Denmark (with Mathias Bach) 31:11

2M ago31:11

31:11

Ever wonder why there are so many common names in Denmark? In this episode, Derek, Brooke, and Conrad dive into Denmark’s strict baby naming laws - with plenty of laughs along the way from our friend Mathias Bach. From government-approved name lists to the historical reasons behind them, we break down what you can (and can’t) name your kid if you'r…

1
S2E6 | The Role of Repetition in Learning, Unschooling, and Shaping Identity 2:02:08

2M ago2:02:08

2:02:08

What’s the value of doing the same thing more than once? In this episode of Ladies Fixing the World, Cecilie Conrad, Sandra Dodd and Sue Elvis unfold repetition—how it shows up in our lives, why it matters, and what it reveals. Together, they examine how children tend to gravitate toward watching the same films, reading the same stories, or playing…

1
117: Dr. Cam Caswell | Why Control Fails and Connection Works with Teens 49:29

2M ago49:29

49:29

Send us a text Dr. Cam joins us to discuss parenting teenagers and why efforts to control them often create more distance. She explains how control can undermine trust and why focusing on connection leads to better results. We discuss the difference between respect and obedience, and how letting teens say “no” builds confidence and self-trust. Jesp…

1
93 | PD2, PD3, and WTF — Do You Really Have to Learn Danish? 32:13

2M ago32:13

32:13

In this episode, you'll learn all about the complicated world of learning Danish as a foreigner in Denmark with an update from Conrad, who’s currently prepping for the PD3 exam, and Mike, who recently passed PD2. Derek explains what the difference is between the two tests (and why it matters), which one you need for permanent residency or citizensh…

1
116: Jacob Nordby | Rethinking Freedom: Purpose, Ritual, and the Value of Being 1:15:08

2M ago1:15:08

1:15:08

Send us a text In this conversation with author and speaker Jacob Nordby, we explore the paradox of freedom in modern life. Is it simply doing whatever we want—or does real freedom require something deeper? While many consider freedom to be about doing whatever they want without constraints, Jacob challenges this perception. "A lot of people assume…

1
92 | Going Viral in Denmark: Mathias Bach on TikTok Fame, Danish Humor & Applesauce 36:26

2M ago36:26

36:26

In this episode, we sit down with award-winning Danish creator Mathias Bach—TikToker of the Year, mastermind behind some of Denmark’s most viral videos, and former child YouTuber who once tried to shorten school days for everyone. Brooke, Conrad, and Derek get Mathias's view on growing up in Denmark, what most foreigners really don’t understand abo…

1
S2E5 | Sandra Dodd, Sue Elvis & Cecilie Conrad on Learning to Read & Trusting Unschooling 2:11:33

3M ago2:11:33

2:11:33

Sandra Dodd, Sue Elvis, and Cecilie Conrad come together to discuss their personal journeys into unschooling, focusing on natural learning, curiosity, and redefining educational expectations. Sandra shares her transition from a public-school teacher to embracing unschooling with her family, exploring how her upbringing influenced her parenting choi…

1
115: Yasmin & Andy | Beyond Boundaries: One Family's Journey from England to Jungle Living in Belize 57:56

3M ago57:56

57:56

Send us a text Yasmin and Andy left a comfortable life in the UK to join a small off-grid community in the jungles of Belize. Fifteen years after cycling through Central America, Yasmin and Andy returned—this time with three kids and a desire for a different kind of life. What began as a plan to visit intentional communities in Europe shifted durin…

1
91 | Denmark’s Bizarre Copyright Wars: Elvis, Harry Potter & McDonald's 18:32

3M ago18:32

18:32

What do Elvis Presley, Harry Potter, and McDonald’s all have in common? They’ve all taken legal swings at Denmark. In this episode, Brooke brings Derek and Mike three wild tales of copyright lawsuits that landed in Danish courtrooms - from a replica Graceland in Jutland to a magical festival that had to lose a little Hogwarts to survive. Plus, a ho…

1
90 | How Denmark Handles Stress, Birthdays & Climate Change (Better Than You?) with Mathias Bach 24:17

3M ago24:17

24:17

Denmark had an eventful week, and we’re breaking it all down! Brooke dives into the surprising but very Danish reason a popular band replaced their lead singer. Derek explores how Denmark is tackling rising groundwater caused by climate change. And Conrad shares a heartwarming (and extremely Danish) birthday tradition that caught him off guard. Plu…

1
114: Amanda Diekman | Radical Acceptance and Low Demand Parenting 50:18

3M ago50:18

50:18

Send us a text In this episode, we speak with Amanda Diekman about how her parenting changed when her six-year-old son went into autistic burnout. He lost verbal communication, stopped eating most foods, and couldn't follow basic routines. Faced with a crisis, Amanda chose to stop trying to fix him and instead removed demands to create safety. She …

1
89 | Should You Move to Denmark? Here’s What to See Before Deciding 30:08

3M ago30:08

30:08

In this episode, Derek, Brooke, and Conrad help a listener who’s considering a move by breaking down what she and her family should explore beyond the tourist hotspots. What will make the visit feel authentic and what everyday realities might surprise you? Joining the conversation is Adrian MacKinder, writer, comedian, and friend of the show who ma…

1
S2E4 | Unschooling: Trusting the Process and Letting Go of Control 1:56:20

3M ago1:56:20

1:56:20

Traditional education is built on judgment—constantly measuring children’s progress against rigid standards. Unschooling offers a different path, one that values curiosity over evaluation. In this episode, Cecilie Conrad, Sue Elvis, and Sandra Dodd discuss why letting go of expectations leads to deeper, more natural learning. Reading becomes a key …

1
113: Luz Olid and David Caballero | Education Evolution: Beyond Traditional Schooling 51:13

3M ago51:13

51:13

Send us a text Luz and David from Evolving Education left careers in biotechnology to explore and document alternative education models worldwide. Frustrated by rigid schooling systems, they traveled to over 170 learning centers to understand how children learn best outside the traditional classroom. In this episode, we talk about how compulsory sc…

1
88 | Boycott American Goods or Sell Them Eggs? Week 13 News in Denmark 22:35

3M ago22:35

22:35

In this episode, Brooke, Conrad, and Derek are joined by friend of the show, Adrian MacKinder to discuss the week's news in Denmark. You'll hear a discussion on America's egg shortage and why the US asked Denmark to buy surplus egg shipments. This leads into a debate on the merit of Danes organizing a boycott of American goods - is it a shortsighte…

1
112: Iris Chen | Untigering: From Control to Connection – Peaceful Parenting for the Tiger Parent 57:02

3M ago57:02

57:02

Send us a text Iris Chen, author of Untigering: Peaceful Parenting for the Deconstructing Tiger Parent, shares how she shifted from a strict, high-expectation parenting style to a trust-based approach. Raised in a Chinese-American household, Iris grew up with academic pressure and obedience as the norm. She carried those expectations into her own p…

1
87 | Are Danes Making it Harder for You to Learn Danish? (with Steven Feraru) 35:11

3M ago35:11

35:11

In this episode, we explore the difficulties of learning Danish through a listener message. Mei from Taiwan, and part of the WAYDID community, shares her frustrating experience learning Danish and being quizzed and mocked by Danish acquaintances on her progress. We discuss the demotivating forces that can plague foreigners learning Danish and the w…

1
S2E3 | Unschooling and Connections: How Learning Is All About Creating a Web of Understanding 1:36:54

3M ago1:36:54

1:36:54

How do children learn math without lessons, textbooks, or worksheets? Sandra Dodd, Sue Elvis, and Cecilie Conrad talk about the ways kids pick up mathematical thinking—through games, shared meals, money management, and real-world problem-solving. They discuss what happens when learning is driven by curiosity rather than instruction, sharing stories…

1
111: Anne Kirketerp | Craft Psychology: The Link Between Crafting & Wellbeing 1:12:54

4M ago1:12:54

1:12:54

Send us a text The moment you carve, knit, bake or start folding paper, something remarkable happens in your brain. The anxious spiral of thoughts quiets, stress hormones recede, and you enter a state that Dr. Anne Kirketerp calls "meaningful self-forgetfulness." Dr. Anne Kirketerp is a psychologist, researcher, and craftsperson who pioneered Craft…

1
86 | Paying US Taxes as an American Abroad (with Nathalie Goldstein) 26:17

4M ago26:17

26:17

In this episode, Derek sits down with Nathalie Goldstein, CEO of MyExpatTaxes and an IRS Enrolled Agent, to break down everything Americans living abroad need to know about filing their U.S. taxes. Whether you're in Denmark, Austria, or anywhere else in the world, Uncle Sam still wants his cut—and ignoring it isn’t an option. You'll find out: 💰 Do …

1
110: Asger Leth | Beyond the 9 to 5 – Finding Freedom & Creating a Space for Deep Conversations & Real Connections 1:06:35

4M ago1:06:35

1:06:35

Send us a text What does it mean to truly connect in a world that’s becoming more digital by the day? Asger Leth is a Danish filmmaker, writer, and creative visionary known for his documentary and feature filmmaking work. He gained international recognition for Ghosts of Cité Soleil (2006), a gripping documentary set in Haiti, and later directed th…

1
85 | Does Living Near Your Friends Affect Your Health? 34:19

4M ago34:19

34:19

This week, Annie, Briana, and Derek discuss the science behind friendship and how living in close proximity to good friends impacts your mental and physical health. According to numerous multi-generational studies, it's even the key to a longer life. What does this mean for those of us who move to a new country and live away from our clos…

1
S2E2 | Unschooling: Trust, Autonomy, and the Realities of Learning 1:26:58

4M ago1:26:58

1:26:58

What is unschooling? What is it not? And why defining it is so difficult? Sandra Dodd, Sue Elvis and Cecilie Conrad explore how unschooling is not just about rejecting school but fundamentally shifting how families approach learning, trust, and daily life. Sandra shares her decades of experience and the challenge of explaining unschooling in simple…

1
109: Dennis Nørmark | Are We Really Free? Pseudo-Work & Unfreedom: How Work & Society Keep Us Trapped 57:12

4M ago57:12

57:12

Send us a text Much of modern work is defined by routine, efficiency targets, and the need to appear productive. But how much of it is actually necessary? Dennis Nørmark, Danish anthropologist, author, and speaker, argues that a significant part of today’s work culture is built on pseudo-work—tasks that maintain appearances rather than create real …

1
84 | Elon Picks a Fight, Zoo Escapes, and Audio Surveillance: Week 9 News 27:49

4M ago27:49

27:49

This week, Derek, Brooke, and Mike break down the most interesting headlines in Denmark. You'll learn why the Danish National Police are looking for an alternative to being on X aka Twitter and the beloved Dane that Elon Musk started a twitter fight with because his misinformation was corrected. On a lighter note, we discuss some of the recent zoo …

1
108: Manisha Snoyer | Unschooling, Community & Rethinking Education 1:01:32

4M ago1:01:32

1:01:32

Send us a text Traditional education often fails to nurture curiosity, creativity, and deep engagement. In this episode, we explore a different path—one that is flexible, self-directed, and built around each child’s unique interests. We discuss homeschooling, unschooling, and modular education, breaking down how families can step away from rigid sc…

1
83 | The Danish King Who Played the Dating Game of Thrones 20:00

4M ago20:00

20:00

In this episode, Derek, Conrad, and Brooke welcome back our resident royal expert, Anna Marie, for another fascinating look at Danish royalty. She kicks things off by quizzing us on some of Denmark’s most intriguing kings and queens before diving into the life and legacy of King Christian IX. How did a king from a relatively small nation manage to …

1
107: Jessica Joelle Alexander | Danish Parenting Secrets: Raising Happy & Confident Kids 1:28:28

4M ago1:28:28

1:28:28

Send us a text What makes Danish parenting unique, and how does it raise happy, resilient kids? In this episode, we talk with Jessica Joelle Alexander, bestselling author of The Danish Way of Parenting, about Denmark’s highly regarded child-rearing approach. The Danish approach to raising children is shaped by principles from Nikolaj Frederik Sever…