Modern Education Movement
On our podcast, we shine a light on education solutions for the modern age, so parents wanting a better alternative to traditional education can make confident, informed choices. We interview knowledge experts on topics like financial literacy, mindset, and differently wired kids. We also have a lot of fun talking with parents and kids who share their unique inspiring stories about their own learning path. This is valuable information you simply won’t find anywhere else.
Trailer
September 25, 2020 • 4 MIN
On our podcast, we shine a light on education solutions for the modern age, so parents wanting a better alternative to traditional education can make confident, informed choices. We interview knowledge experts on topics like financial literacy, mindset, and differently wired kids. We also have a lot of fun talking with parents and kids who share their unique inspiring stories about their own learning path. This valuable information you won’t find anywhere else. We do the hard work of researching and consolidating data so you don't have to. >>> www.ModernEducationMovement.com <<< Head here to win 6 INCREDIBLE prizes including discounts and free memberships to modern education solutions. EVERYBODY WHO ENTERS unlocks access to all 6! So join us, on Oct 4, for the launch of the Modern Education Movement podcast. It’s going to be great!
Find the 3rd Way with Educational Guide Jenn Sutherland
October 4, 2020 • 12 MIN
Grab your 6 piece Education Prize Pack! Simply subscribe, rate, and review the show to claim your prizes - discounts, free memberships and more on high quality modern education products, including one from this episode's guest! Today's episode we have our amazing guest and friend, Jenn Sutherland! Jenn has over 20 years of experience supporting families in developing world class educations for their children outside the four walls of a classroom – beyond school. She wowed us with her #1 advice for parents looking for better school options. It's a must-listen.
Freedom Breeds Passion with School Builder Kelly Davis
October 4, 2020 • 8 MIN
Grab your 6 piece Education Prize Pack! Simply subscribe, rate, and review the show to claim your prizes - discounts, free memberships and more on high quality modern education products, including one from this episode's guest! Today's episode we have an amazing guest, Kelly Davis! Kelly is a Co-founder and Director of Education at Galileo, an online school with students from around the world. Their unique program helps students build critical thinking, global citizenship, entrepreneurship and more, to be able to thrive in an ever changing 21st century. She wowed us with her #1 advice for parents looking for better school options. It's a must-listen.
Unlock Your Child's Genius with Professor/Entrepreneur Jeff Sandefer
October 4, 2020 • 11 MIN
Grab your 6 piece Education Prize Pack! Simply subscribe, rate, and review the show to claim your prizes - discounts, free memberships and more on high quality modern education products. On this episode we have Jeff Sandefer. In 2010 he and his wife Laura started Acton Academy, a cutting edge K12 school that blends a one room schoolhouse, the Socratic Method and 21st century technology to equip each student to change the world . Acton Academy has over 270 affiliates around the world and over 18,000 applications from parent-entrepreneurs who want to launch a new school. By 2019, Acton’s Children’s Business Fairs also had served over 25,000 young entrepreneurs in over 200 cities. Jeff wowed us with his #1 advice for parents looking for better school options. It's a must-listen!
Pivot from Education to Learning with Worldschooler Lainie Liberti
October 4, 2020 • 12 MIN
Grab your 6 piece Education Prize Pack! Simply subscribe, rate, and review the show to claim your prizes - discounts, free memberships and more on high quality modern education products, including one from this episode's guest! On today's episode we chat with the incredible Lainie Liberti - an author, speaker, community leader, teen coach and alternative education advocate who helped to spearhead the thriving worldschooling movement. Lainie applies her "world is your classroom" philosophy to give solid advice for parents looking for better school options. Think learning over education, and what it means to learn and be successful in life. Listen in!
Family Spotlight: Rocky and 16 yo movie producer Jack Buckley
October 4, 2020 • 13 MIN
Grab your 6 piece Education Prize Pack! Simply subscribe, rate, and review the show to claim your prizes - discounts, free memberships and more on high quality modern education products. This is a super special episode! My son Graham joins me to interview a father-son who have chosen their own unique path for education. Rocky Buckley is an entrepreneur, coach, consultant, and the creator of Platinum Path, a program for thought leaders, authors, speakers, consultants, and coaches to reinvent their expertise and shift into a high-priced, lifestyle-friendly business model. Jack Buckley is a 16-year old homeschooler, filmmaker and host of his own YouTube podcast called The Jack Buckley Show, aimed at young creators. Jack wrote and produced the world's first Minecraft animated feature film, an action-comedy called Remnants, which he released when he was only 14 years old. Listen in as they share their experience to help guide parents in figuring out a path for their families. Enjoy!
How to Break Down Your Frustrations and Commit with Finance Guru Cody Loughlin
October 4, 2020 • 12 MIN
Grab your 6 piece Education Prize Pack! Simply subscribe, rate, and review the show to claim your prizes - discounts, free memberships and more on high quality modern education products, including one from this episode's guest! Cody Loughlin is a serial entrepreneur who started to learn finance at 19, was a millionaire at 27, bankrupt at 28, and then retired early at 59 to pursue a passion of teaching financial literacy, successful mindset, and entrepreneurship that our schools refuse to teach. Cody offers up a powerful, systematic way to move past feelings of frustration and helplessness to help parents looking for better school options. It''ll surprise and encourage you - hint: your kids get involved!
The Best Plan is the One That Happens with Accidental Homeschooler Holly Homer
October 5, 2020 • 13 MIN
Grab your 6 piece Education Prize Pack! Simply subscribe, rate, and review the show to claim your prizes - discounts, free memberships and more on high quality modern education products, including one from this episode's guest! On this episode, Holly Homer is the last person she thought would embrace home schooling! Holly is a professional blogger, running the Kids Activities Blog and the Quirky Momma FB page, which has a community of over 3.5 million people. She is also a best-selling author - her three books have sold over 215K copies. And she’s done that while partial-homeschooling her 3 boys. Her #1 advice for parents trying to figure out the best educational path for their kids will surprise you. For Holly, the best things in life for her business and family often are nowhere close to her best laid plans. Have a listen!
Relationship over Results with Lifelong Educator Mara Linaberger
October 5, 2020 • 13 MIN
Grab your 6 piece Education Prize Pack! Simply subscribe, rate, and review the show to claim your prizes - discounts, free memberships and more on high quality modern education products. Today's episode we have an amazing guest! Mara Linaberger is a life-long educator, author, technologist, artist, ballroom dancer, and musician, having spent 25 years in service as a public school educator, teacher trainer, and administrator. She is on a mission to create a global network of 100 micro schools in the next 20 years—to harness education toward helping amazing children develop their highest potentials while making learning fun again! She wowed us with her #1 advice for parents looking for better school options. It'll surprise and encourage you!
Galileo School Deep Dive with Kelly Davis
October 14, 2020 • 45 MIN
Entrepreneurship. Global citizen. Empowered, critical, creative thinker. Is that the person you aspire your child to become? If so, you'll definitely want to listen to this episode. My guest Kelly Davis is an educator, who began her teaching experience during an off-the-grid experience in a remote village in Fiji in a 3 walled-schoolhouse and it was this adventure that motivated her to continue teaching in other small villages and various countries throughout Asia. Now, she has the opportunity to build a global school, where kids can learn and develop their best values from all cultures around the world. Kelly Davis is a Co-founder and Director of Education at Galileo. Their unique program helps students build critical thinking, global citizenship, entrepreneurship and more to be able to thrive in an ever changing 21st century. My 13 yo son Graham actually started with a few weeks ago, and so far he’s loving it. And why not? Graham gets to choose exactly what he wants to learn, from a broad range of topics. He’s starting with 3D modelling, coding and an entrepreneurship club, and he can change that at any time. Self-directed education is a core foundation of Galileo. If you are looking for a modern education option, this episode is a must-listen! Be sure to listen to the entire episode, for a very special, time limited Galileo promotion.
Homeschool without Having To Teach with Holly Homer
October 20, 2020 • 53 MIN
Are you a parent who would love to be able to homeschool while also running a thriving business? Well today’s guest Holly Homer has done just that. Once a physical therapist specializing in the treatment of chronic pain, Holly is now a professional blogger running the Kids Activities Blog and the Quirky Momma FB page, which has a community of over 3.5 million people. She is also a best-selling author - her three books have sold over 215K copies. And she’s done that while partial-homeschooling her 3 boys, meaning, she doesn’t do it all, in fact she’d happily tell you that these days, she’s mostly hands off because her boys can manage their day to day learning on their own. How has she created this incredible life for her and her family? You'll be surprised. Some of the topics we explore: - Importance of play, and the value of being bored - How to foster independence - Importance of planning, and being able to let go of the plan Enjoy the show!
How To Get Past School Letdown with Jennifer Sutherland of Beyond School
October 27, 2020 • 43 MIN
Forget the kids (for a moment), and all they are going through. We've overlooked something that vitally needs addressing. Parents are grieving the loss of a dream they had... That by sending their kids on the yellow bus to school, just like they went themselves, many years ago... Their kids were being well looked after. This grief needs processing, in order to move forward, fully. Today my guest and good friend Jennifer Sutherland explore that topic and a whole lot more. Somehow, she homeschooled her own four children, quite successfully, from birth to university entrance while traveling the world, full time, for over a decade. Yeah they did some crazy things, some of which we’ll get into today. Jennifer also has a degree in education and has worked with hundreds of families as a consultant and educational coach. She has over 20 years of experience supporting families in developing world class education for their children outside the four walls of a classroom – beyond school. She’s now the CEO – Chief ‘Evangelist’ Officer and Chief Education Officer– of Beyond School, an experience she describes as a path between school and homeschooling, that enables parents to create a more conscious and intentional education for their children. If you need help in figuring out the right learning path for you and your family, or are simply curious about what might be possible, this episode is for you.
Unboxing Microschools with Educator Mara Linaberger
November 3, 2020 • 45 MIN
My guest today Mara Linaberger believes that each of us has chosen to be here at this moment in time for a specific reason—that we are each on a mission that we choose for ourselves. And that figuring out what we love, what we’re good at, and how we can be of service is the engine we need to fuel a lifetime of joyful learning. Mara also believes that school often slows down or stifles that excitement for students. So she is on a mission to create a global network of 100 microschools in the next 20 years—to harness education toward helping amazing children to develop their highest potentials while making learning fun again! Mara is a life-long educator, author, technologist, artist, ballroom dancer, and musician, having spent 25 years in service as a public school educator, teacher trainer, and administrator. She is the international two-time best selling author of HELP! My Child Hates School and The Micro-School Builder’s Handbook. Mara currently lives in Harmony, PA, with her husband Michael while she travels far and wide, directly supporting clients in her global Microschool Builders programs. On this episode, learn all about microschools, whether they are a good fit for your family, and if inspired, how you can start one in your own community.
How to Keep the Lights On with Julia Black
November 10, 2020 • 46 MIN
My guest today, Julia Black was faced with a very real problem to solve. Her daughter was struggling at school. She felt fenced in, crushed and dispirited. The light inside her 7 year old child, for learning, had gone out. What would you do if you were in that situation? For Julia, she knew something had to change. And so she took action. She and her family spent the next 12 years on an amazing real-world adventure exploring cutting-edge educational practices, neuroscientific developments and mental wellbeing research. And the good news is that she found a way to transform children who were totally bored by what school has to offer and turn them into the most intrinsically motivated learners. Be aware - this is not for hands-off parents. To light up your child, you must first turn on the light in yourself, and that is challenging yet rewarding work. Fortunately, Julia has transformed thousands of families through her Lights On® Academy. They are leading more positive, creative and happy lives because of it. This is one of the most valuable interviews I've done on this show. Enjoy!
Unschooling Exposed with Gina Riley
November 17, 2020 • 40 MIN
A lot of you are getting exposed or considering non traditional forms of education, and I know many of you are really wondering what is hype, and what really works. Well today, we’re going to pull back the curtain, and take an academic research point of view at one of the lesser understood schooling options. Unschooling. It’s a fundamentally opposite approach to traditional education as the name suggests. My guest today Gina Riley is known internationally for her work in the fields of homeschooling, unschooling, and self-directed learning. In addition, Dr. Riley has extensive experience in online education and distance learning at the college/university level. She is an educational psychologist, Clinical Professor, and Program Leader of the Adolescent Special Education Program at CUNY – Hunter College. Dr. Riley has over fifteen years experience working with teens diagnosed with learning disabilities and emotional/behavioral disorders. She is also a seasoned academic, with years of teaching, research, and supervisory experience within the fields of special education, psychology, school psychology, and mental health counseling. Fasten your seat belt everyone - we’re about to pull back the curtain and examine the world of unschooling and more through the lense of academic research.
How Your Teen Can Overcome Anything with Amanda Chatzikonstantinou
November 24, 2020 • 30 MIN
The teenage years. What immediately comes to mind? I have 3 teenagers right now - my daughter Malia who is 16, and twin boys David and Graham who will be 14 in a couple of weeks. I get to see it all... - The moody swings that puberty brings. - David’s bottomless appetite - The insecurities - The deepening voices and developing personalities - The needing friendships more than ever and parents less over time - Trying to discover their own identity, what they are passionate about - Making decisions for the future and trying to juggle lots of competing interests The pressures can quickly become daunting and overwhelming! That’s where my guest comes in. Amanda Chatzeekonstanteenoh is a Certified Master Life & Wellness Coach whose life mission is to equip teens & young adults to navigate the stresses that come on their way to adulthood. She equips her clients with essential life skills, effective goal setting tools and stress management strategies to become confident, self- motivated, independent and resilient adults. That’s what I want for my kids, and since you are listening to this podcast, I know you do too. Even if you don’t have kids, you’ll gain some valuable insights you can apply to your own life.
Family Spotlight: Bucking traditional school with 16 yo movie producer Jack Buckley
December 1, 2020 • 36 MIN
Today is a super exciting day. First, my part-time co-host and son Graham Kirk is in the studio! Graham joins me to interview a father-son who have chosen their own unique path for education. We give you these real-life examples to inspire you and to learn from as you figure out the right choice for your family. That, and we just love hanging out with them! Our parent guest, Rocky Buckley knew from the beginning homeschooling was the right fit for his family. As a child he struggled a lot in school, mostly from boredom and being bullied for not fitting in. He and his partner, a former school teacher, wanted something better for their kids. Professionally, Rocky guides knowledge experts who want to monetize their expertise, but don’t know how. If you are an author, speaker, consultant or coach, imagine leveraging what you know into your own high-ticket, lifestyle-friendly business. His clients have sold a combined 100 million dollars in training programs, curriculum, and information products to the market. Jack Buckley is a 16-year old homeschooler, filmmaker and host of his own YouTube podcast called The Jack Buckley Show, aimed at young creators. Jack has appeared on television, newspapers and radio as the creator of the world's first Minecraft animated feature film, an action-comedy called Remnants, which he released when he was only 14 years old. He is currently working on his next mystery feature project, projected to release in 2023. Tune in for this fascinating conversation about their educational journey!
12 Legit Alternatives to College/University with SJ Barakovy
December 8, 2020 • 51 MIN
Every parent wants their child to be successful. I know you do, that’s why you are listening to this podcast. You want the best educational experience for your child. That’s the frustrating part. So many of us put faith in traditional school because, let’s be honest, it was the one we went through. No one showed us real alternatives for our families. At some point, you’ll have to decide on post secondary education. It’s a life changing decision. My guest today doesn't want you and your children to feel trapped once again. You need to understand the options in order to make a confident, informed, decision. What if you knew not 1, or 2, but 12 viable options to college and university? That’s why it’s incredibly important that you listen to today’s guest. SJ Barakovy works 1:1 with parents who are dissatisfied with their kids’ educational journey. He shows them what is truly possible. He then guides them to create a solution tailor fit to their needs. He has served dozens of families , individuals (primarily students & other solopreneurs ), & business workplaces over the past 6 years in the educational space (mentor/consultant/facilitator, advisor) & nearly 3 years before that as a life/family coach. More than that, he’s incredibly fascinating! He is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge about education, steeped in the history of how education evolved, and also where it’s going! You are in for a real treat today! Enjoy this episode...
Save Your Kid From Financial Ruin with Cody Loughlin
December 15, 2020 • 46 MIN
Do you dream some day of becoming a millionaire? Of being financially free? What about for your kids? Well, what if you one day achieved that dream, and then a year later lost everything? My guest today Cody Loughlin lived that experience. He became a millionaire at the early age of 27, and went bankrupt at age 28! How did that happen? How could he go from being on top of the world, achieving all this success, to then having his possessions taken away, and deep in debt? Cody learned he was missing one essential skill, and without it, it can ruin the most talented, determined individual. What was that skill? He was financially illiterate. He didn’t know how to manage his money. They didn’t teach that in school. Fortunately, Cody’s story doesn’t end there. Cody's companies have reached over $200M+ in sales. They reached the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies twice. He also served as the vice-president of a commercial bank and financed over $100M+ in loans. 10 years after that bankruptcy, Cody was able to retire. Now Cody’s mission is to equip youth with those essential financial literacy skills. He works with parents so they can educate their children on how to become financially free. These families build deep, lasting relationships. If you want to give your kids the necessary skills for success in life, this episode is for you.
How to turn under performing teens into high achievers with Henry Dingle
December 22, 2020 • 45 MIN
Do you have teenagers? Are at your wits end more days than not, trying to help your demotivated, under-performing and frustrated kid? My guest today has the cure for you. He’s figured out how to engage and motivate young adults. What black magic is this, you may be wondering? Here’s a hint - he doesn’t resort to bribes or threats to take away the PS4, or the PS5 if you are lucky enough to find one. Henry gets consistent results using these ingredients - trust, love, openness, respect and accountability. Now, that all sounds well and good, but the real question is, how? With lots of practice and experimentation. Henry Dingle has worked with 100s, maybe even 1000s of teenagers and their parents over the past 20 years as a tutor, mentor and coach. That’s thousands of hours figuring out how to help teenagers succeed, and parents to maintain their sanity. One graduate of the program, when asked how she overcame her personal challenges and learning difficulties to achieve the outstanding grades she did, simply responded: ‘His name is Henry, and he made me believe in myself again’. Today, you and I get to learn the methods behind the results.
Encore Clip: How To Get Unstuck And Make Your Educational Choice with Jenn Sutherland
December 30, 2020 • 14 MIN
Welcome to the Modern Education Movement podcast. This week on the podcast we’re bringing you a bite-sized, 10-15 minute clip from one of our favourite and most popular episodes. Catch the full conversation in Episode 12 - The School Myth Exposed with Jennifer Sutherland of Beyond School. >>> https://link.chtbl.com/episode-12-jenn-sutherland Today my good friend Jennifer Sutherland dives into why so many parents are grieving a lost ideal - that traditional, mainstream school is the right choice for their families. She then guides listeners with practical, actionable advice on how to move past that letdown, and with courage, find another way forward that gives them and their children a life they didn't know was possible! Jennifer has a degree in education and has worked with hundreds of families as a consultant and educational coach. She has over 20 years of experience supporting families in developing world class education for their children outside the four walls of a classroom – beyond school. She’s now the CEO – Chief ‘Evangelist’ Officer and Chief Education Officer– of Beyond School, an experience she describes as a path between school and homeschooling, that enables parents to create a more conscious and intentional education for their children. If you need help in figuring out the right learning path for you and your family, or are simply curious about what might be possible, this episode is for you.
Top 5 Game Changing Takeaways from 20 Episodes in 2020
January 5, 2021 • 20 MIN
We covered some incredible ground in 2020! The Modern Education Movement started back in October, which in 2020 feels like a decade, right? Today I look back at the first 20 episodes, and pull out 5 major themes from so many incredible conversations. You'll be surprised by what emerged. Listen in and get a short cut to the biggest takeaways from these modern educators.
Re-inventing high school with Indra Sofian of Sora Schools
January 12, 2021 • 43 MIN
If you have kids in high school, or approaching that age, today’s episode is especially for you. If you want a look at the future of education happening right now, keep listening. My guest Indra Sofian is the co-founder of Sora Schools, a live, virtual project-based high school where students explore their interests and future careers. That’s an understatement, actually. Imagine a school where kids get mentored in projects of their own choosing, like building a rocket, with the support of a SpaceX engineer… And the learning objectives achieved through that rocket project are evaluated and translated into an accepted transcript for university... Where the focus is helping students discover and develop their passions, and turn that into an exciting career choice? Sora Schools is trail-blazing the future of education. Now Indra’s journey to reimagine high school education began while he was in college at Georgia Tech, where he started his first business Elevate Media, producing videos and content for companies like Coca Cola and State Bank & Trust. He also led the student entrepreneurship community at Georgia Tech and became a venture partner at Contrary Capital, a venture capital firm investing in university-founded startups. Eventually, Indra realized that he was learning far more from his business and other involvements than he was sitting in class. He began to research educational models and last year founded Sora Schools with his co-founders, Wesley Samples and Garrett Smiley. Enjoy the show!
Family Spotlight: It's Us! (Gerry & Graham)
January 19, 2021 • 26 MIN
Here's your chance to hear the back story of your hosts, me Gerry and son Graham (14). We have a lot of fun talking about... - the "split test" that led us to shift from regular school to our flavour of homeschool/unschool - our unique educational / learning journey we've taken as a family (3 kids) - how Graham saved the day in Mexico busking for money - why we let strangers stay at our house - what business Graham is currently making money doing - Graham's reflections after 4 months of Galileo, an online self-directed school ... and more!
Pre-school for (want to be) home parents with Joy Anderson
January 26, 2021 • 22 MIN
Today we turn our attention to children in their younger years... I’m really excited because my guest today is on a mission to help women create successful preschools (not daycares) so they can stay home with their kids, create a consistent income, and make a difference in children's lives. She was once there too. After becoming a single mother overnight, Joy Anderson had to figure out how to create a full-time income while also caring for 3 young children. She was committed to staying home with them. She refused to put them in daycare or even worse, start a daycare. That's when she discovered a third option, PRESCHOOL, and started one in her home instead. She quickly grew it into multiple locations, where she taught over 1,000 students and made $1.75 million before finally selling it. Joy realized this preschool business model had the potential to bless millions of mothers' lives, so she set out on a mission to share this message. As the founder and CEO of Preschool System, she's helped thousands of women create successful preschools... and she won't stop until every woman in the world knows there IS a third option to childcare: they too can start a preschool, stay home with their kids, and create incredible wealth for their family. If you are looking for an income option that works for you and your family, or additional support for your pre-school kids, this episode is especially for you.
Homeschooling Done Right with Pat Fullingim
February 9, 2021 • 49 MIN
Homeschooling is on the rise. In a Gallup poll in August of 2020, 10% of parents in the US indicated they intended to homeschool that year. And that doesn’t include children at home enrolled in a public or private school. That’s double the number of families homeschooling from the previous year. Success varies of course. Trying to work from home, in some cases for the first time, while also playing the role of teacher is more than some parents can take, or really want to do. Not that you have to be the teacher. There are many flavors of homeschooling - what you do reflects who you are, what you value and where you want to go. So, is homeschooling an option for you and your family? My good friend Pat Fullingim is joining us today to discuss these questions and more. She is a crisis & homeschooling coach, working with parents to shift chaos & confusion into clarity & confidence as they begin their homeschooling journey. Pat is a 23 year homeschooling veteran who not only taught her own 6 kids but also assisted hundreds of families along the way through a homeschooling coop she helped establish and run. If you've been considering homeschooling, or are already on the the journey and looking for guidance, this episode is for especially for you.
3 Simple Keys for Healthy Kids with Megan Dillabough
February 18, 2021 • 43 MIN
It's easy to forget how much nutrition and lifestyle affect educational success. What if your child's performance could be improved... simply by changing their diet? A lack of motivation and tiredness could be less about workload, and more about energy levels. Diet affects mood, sleep and ability to recover. The extra stresses from pandemic life make it more essential than ever to take care of our bodies. That starts with the food we put into them. You can't out learn a poor diet, no matter how hard we try. Yet, figuring out what to do, and then sticking with it, especially with our kids, is easier said than done. My guest today, Megan Dillabough solves this problem for entrepreneurs and busy families. She is a Holistic Nutrition & Lifestyle Consultant, fondly referred to as the Wellness Wizard & Kitchen Witch. Megan uses her kitchen as her lab, then shares her amazing discoveries, so we can get back to the basics of eating well & feeling great. If you are looking for simple and effective ways for you and your family to stay healthy, today's show is a must listen.
Become a Teen Entrepreneur with Travis Lish
February 23, 2021 • 34 MIN
I was introduced to my guest today, Travis through a mutual friend, Joy Anderson, who is also a previous guest on this podcast. She said to me... you've really got to meet this guy. He's doing incredible work with teens and entrepreneurship, so naturally I was curious to find out more. I did a little bit more digging and turns out he's a pretty super creative guy. He's a product designer and business developer. He designed a travel toothbrush that cleans itself, which sounds pretty cool, that blew up big on Kickstarter. But even more than that, he's really super passionate about investing in young people... the future generation. He founded a nonprofit that helps teens start their own businesses. He's been doing that for about four years now, and he's worked with over 100 young people, mentoring them as they walked through a process that he calls the Creator's Path. He's also working in an Acton Academy school, which is a cutting edge K to 12 school that Jeff Sandefer, who was in our third episode, launched. And so we get a chance to learn a bit more about that. Today we'll explore how his model of entrepreneurship is changing teen lives for the better, preparing them for an uncertain future, and how your teen can get involved if it's the right fit for them.
How Students Can Love (and Thrive in) School with Kelsey Komorowski
March 2, 2021 • 43 MIN
Better grades. Less stress. A skill set for life. As parents, that’s what we want for our kids… for them to not only achieve well, but do it with joy and confidence. We want to do our part to set them up for future success once they are out of the home. So naturally, I was curious when I saw those 9 words prominently displayed on my guest’s web site. Kelsey Komorowski has been tackling this challenge for quite some time… she has spent over 30,000 hours working with families… first with the Ministry of Education here in Ontario, my home province, and now through her company, Komo Consulting. She knows that every student can succeed in school, so long as they’re shown how. She’s uncovered 5 shifts, 5 things she’s seen successful students and families doing. Parenting is a tough road, and it’s really hard at times to know what to do. I certainly speak from experience, with 3 teens of my own. As a family coach, Kelsey loves empowering parents with the skills and knowledge to help their kids reach their potential. She shows them how to establish positive household dynamics around school. Plus, she loves to travel, something I’m really into as well. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover, so listen in!
Learn 1 Year of Math in 3 Months with Dr. Aditya Nagrath
March 9, 2021 • 45 MIN
Today we’re going to explore the one educational subject that I believe causes the most grief and frustration for parents and their kids… It’s a four letter word that has the power to turn a peaceful moment at home into a battle for survival… I’m talking about math of course, and my guest today, Dr. Aditya Nagrath has a contagious passion for it. And he has a bold promise for you parents who’d rather lock your bedroom door and turn up an 80s playlist real loud than help your kids with their homework… He guarantees your child will learn 1 year of math in just 3 months, doing 30 minutes a week using his system, affectionately called Elephant Learning. And… the kids who use it enjoy it, in fact they’ll choose to spend the time learning, without you having to say anything. So… wanna get some sanity and free time back? Of course, what matters most is setting your kids up for future success. And in a world increasingly more tech and data-driven, math problem-solving skills are more important than ever. So let’s find out more about this incredible guy and his mission to empower children through mathematics.
Put Kids in Control with Naomi Fisher
March 16, 2021 • 38 MIN
Some of you know a little about my backstory. I’ve been an entrepreneur for most of my working life… I love the freedom to choose what I do, how I structure my days, where I invest in my personal development and in my business. Freedom is EVERYTHING to me. I want to live my best life now, to wake up every day excited for what lies ahead, and to have choice in the matter. That’s why I’m excited to speak with today’s guest, Naomi Fisher. She went from working in a hand made cake factory, a highly stressful job where she didn’t even have control over her break times, to now a clinical psychologist and author of Changing our Minds: How Children can take Control of their own Learning. In her book, she argues why having control, having autonomy in learning and life is essential for growth, health and happiness. We’ll dive in deeply into this topic, which I think is especially relevant given the world we live in right now, where in the battle against the pandemic, much of our collective control over our lives is greatly reduced. We’ll examine the affects of a controlled environment on kids who spend much of their childhood in the school system, where like Naomi experienced, you have to raise your hand to go to the bathroom. She is a mother to two self-directed learners who were unschooled for 6 years, then attended a Sudbury-model school in Paris and now are members of the Self-Managed Learning College in Hove. Get ready to dive into the psychology of self-directed learning: why it works, how it works and how to make it work for you and your family.
Why Tonies are Europe's most popular toy with Drew Vernon
March 23, 2021 • 24 MIN
For parents with young children, this pandemic is particularly challenging. Kids want and need to move, to play, to experience life with all of their senses. None of us want our kids glued to screens for hours at a time, being passive content consumers... yet so often that’s what happens. My guest today, Drew Vernon is passionate about creating a playful, stimulating experience for young kids. He is a father of three and for years ran his own daycare facility, so he’s got some skin in the game. He is now the U.S. marketing lead at Tonies. The Toniebox is a popular audio system that uses screen-free storytelling and playful characters to bring stories to life. And get this. If you are a parent or loved one who can’t be with a child in person, you can read a story or send a message through the Toniebox, right to your child. What a great way to connect grandparents and grandkids. There are now over 1 million Tonieboxes across Europe, and just recently have become available in North America. Today we’ll take a close look at this unique product, birthed out of two dad’s desires to do something meaningful for kids. We’ll also explore the role of play in early childhood development.
How I Get Chores Done Without Battles
March 30, 2021 • 11 MIN
Solo episode this week! Hey, everyone, today I want to talk to you about the age old question of how do you get kids to help with chores? I've got three teenage kids myself... a daughter who's 16... twin boys who are 14... and recently I've had some changes in my life. I moved into my own place beginning of February... which has been awesome. It's an opportunity to try some some new things. Because in the previous place, I noticed a lot of the time chores were often a hassle... this battle that would go on to get things done. I don't want to be a nag. I want them to be internally motivated to do things. And ultimately, I just want everything in life to be fun. That's something I'm really focusing on a lot in my life right now. So how to make this work so everyone is happy? I share a few things I'm trying that I think are working pretty well.
Start a Kidpreneur Family with Luke and Troy Aberle
April 6, 2021 • 39 MIN
My co-host and son Graham Kirk is back with me in the podcast booth. He joins me to interview a father-son who have chosen their own unique path for education. We give you this real-life story to inspire you and to learn from as you figure out the right choices for your family. The Aberle’s believe in entrepreneurship. Their question for you and I today is...can you shift from the traditional ways families operate and embrace what they call the Kidpreneur family? They actually created a program for entire families to start thinking and acting like true entrepreneurs. This father/son duo have invested heavily in themselves to be strong mentally and sound practically in all aspects of life and business. And the results speak for themselves. Troy is a master at sales, having sold over $390 million personally. He now hones his craft as an Executive Life and Business Strategist which to me is a pretty fab title. Luke is 12 years old and back when he was 9, he started a website all by himself! He reviews tech products, camping gear and photograph! These are things he loves to use outdoors near the beautiful Rocky Mountains.
The Keys To Making The Right Educational Choices
April 13, 2021 • 8 MIN
Quotes From Episode "And I would say no matter what option you pick, Covid [life] has shown us is you can't just hand off or delegate learning education to the school system, right? It's not enough or perhaps even not even the right thing at all for you." Don't Miss: 1:30 I talk about my new business direction I'm really enjoying 3:47 The shift from taking anything to really focusing, and how that accelerated momentum 5:18 How to apply the focus principle to make the right educational choices
Let's Learn About Science with Stephanie Ryan
April 20, 2021 • 20 MIN
Stephanie Ryan is a learning scientist who has dedicated herself to making parents with younger kids more comfortable finding and teaching the science around them. She recently wrote a new book Let's Learn about Chemistry! which is all about starting young readers off on a lifelong love of STEM! These days you can find her active on the @letslearnaboutscience Instagram account. There she shares early learning resources for parents, often sharing questions parents can ask and mistakes of her own that she makes.
Parent Without Giving a F*ck with Sue Donnellan
April 27, 2021 • 34 MIN
My guest today Sue has been that stressed-out parent. For starters she is a mom to four children (including triplets). Her husband is a career military officer and has been deployed 5 times. She's also an entrepreneur of 3 businesses. Despite all that, she's figured out over time, how to get the job done as a parent with humor and wisdom. If she can emerge through the parenting journey triumphant, there is hope for the rest of us, and today we'll explore how to do that. My guest, Sue Donnellan is the mom behind the platform Ask Mom Parenting. She's also the author of the International #1 Best Selling book, Secrets to Parenting Without Giving a F^ck. She can help you end tantrums, eliminate back-talk, neutralize sibling fights and build lasting relationships of lifelong trust and respect with your kids.
The Gift of Autism with Michael Barton
May 4, 2021 • 30 MIN
My guest today, Michael Barton has a very personal message to share. You see, Michael is autistic, and he wants everyone to know that the world is a better place because of the unique gifts autistic people possess. While still at a young age he has already published two books and given over 100 talks on autism, Asperger's syndrome and neurodiversity. His talks focus on positive aspects of being autistic, to inspire people and break down the barriers autistic people face. Michael also advises companies on their Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) policies surrounding neurodiversity. Fascinating fact: Michael works as an E-commerce Data Analyst for Autovia, making him one of just 16% of the autistic population in full time employment. I learned a lot about the world from the view of an autistic person. I realized there is much I have to learn still. Have a listen and together lets create a world where everyone's kids can thrive, which includes the world of education.
Success after 17 schools in 10 years with Taryn and Shane Helper
May 11, 2021 • 53 MIN
Today we shine the spotlight on an amazing family to inspire you on your education journey. Through these examples, we want you to know that if your situation isn’t working, it doesn’t have to be that way. You can find your own success path, and it may look very different from what you are doing right now. And you’re not alone. That’s what Taryn discovered. Her and her 3 kids moved through 17 schools in 10 years. Each of them were diagnosed with disabilities, prescribed highly scheduled drugs and attended years of multiple therapies. By some miracle when things were at their worst with Shane, their neighbor introduced them to Self-Directed Education and their lives began to transform. Shane started directing his own education. He attended a democratic school before making his big decision to take his drumming career to the next level. He spent a year full time completing the highest grade in music and now teaches drums. Inspired by these positive shifts, Taryn launched into the depths of research in alternative education methods. She also trained as a Self-Directed Facilitator and was a staff member at a Sudbury school, for 1 year. While Shane had a really rough beginning with school... since self-directing Shane no longer needs meds, therapies or has any diagnoses. It's a really inspiring story and one you'll definitely learn a lot from.
Micro Movements for Massive Results with Annette Cashell
May 18, 2021 • 34 MIN
Even before Covid most of us spend way more time sitting than is good for us. Covid has amplified a systemic problem even further, especially for our kids. Annette Cashell discovered this the hard way. She had a series of serious injuries, despite living an "active" lifestyle... or so she thought. She began to realise that outside of her gym workouts and weekend hikes, she was sedentary the REST OF THE TIME. And, it turns out, the REST OF THE TIME was what really mattered! And so she started to add movement into her day. Frequently. And with variety. And her body thrived. So much so that she was able to avoid the neck fusion operation and all the pain/heartache associated with it. My guest today Annette Cashell is a Natural Movement Coach who helps people add movement (not exercise!), into their everyday lives for better whole body health. Her offerings are specifically designed to undo or prevent the damage caused by excessive sitting, in a highly practical, sustainable and even fun way! Her mantra is - Exercise is optional; movement is essential. Today we’re going to learn how to do that.
Coding Made Fun with James Thornock
May 25, 2021 • 34 MIN
James Thornock is a former school teacher who found the constraints of the public school system didn’t allow him to do what he loves most - create a great learning experience for kids. He's now a young dad and Operations Officer for Coder Kids. We delve into what it takes to create a great learning environment, in particular with online learning, and how at Coder Kids they are able to keep kids as young as 6 engaged for hours at a time. We explore how learning coding develops valuable skills, even if it’s something that isn’t a long term passion for them. Coder Kids offers a buffet of learning experiences, from programming itself to teamwork, videography and art design. They cover many platforms, from Minecraft to Fortnite, Scratch, Python and more. Enjoy the show!
Confidently Choose that Ideal College Major / Job (and to Know You Are OK Just As You Are) with Gail Swift
June 1, 2021 • 30 MIN
Like many people I interview on this podcast, my guest today, Gail Swift has a mission fueled by a painful experience in her life. This happened for her at the age of 15. At that time, she was putting effort into being something she wasn’t. She was working against the way she was designed to work, and that caused her a lot of unnecessary stress. Fortunately for the rest of us, Gail chose to use that pain to become a speaker/advocate for youth. She has an unwavering passion to teach every youth how they naturally solve problems, to discover their ideal way of doing things. How is this useful? - This new awareness guides college-bound students to know their ideal major. - It helps parents better understand their children, building deeper and lasting relationships. - There is no greater joy than in finding your true essence. That’s what we want for our kids right? Gail is a certified Kolbe consultant and president of Plans to Prosper Coaching, and today we’re going to uncover how you can help your child find their ideal path in life.
The Education Revolution has Happened - What Do We Do Now? with Peter Berg
June 8, 2021 • 40 MIN
My guest today was introduced to me through Taryn Helper, a mom I interviewed a few weeks ago. If there is anyone on this planet that has a pulse on where alternative education has come and where it is going, it’s Dr. Peter Berg. Dr. Berg has over 25 year’s experience with alternative school systems. He’s worked in everything from Democratic schools, to self-directed learning environments to innovative public school programs. Professionally, he’s a mental health counsellor and coach for teens. Clearly he’s very passionate about helping teens find their true potential. He’s also the main conference organizer for AERO, short for Alternative Education Resource Organization. AERO happens to be the only organization with a global reach that brings learner-centered educational alternatives together under one roof. Today we’re going to explore where education is headed, learn about the vast resources AERO has that you and I can take advantage of, and hear about AERO’s conference happening later this month, which I’ll also be presenting at.
The 5 Minute Hack for Increased Brain Performance and Self Regulation with Trent McEntire
June 15, 2021 • 26 MIN
Trent McEntire is an inspiring individual. He’s an example of how one can overcome limitations with determination and a creative spark. Born with a mild form of Cerebral Palsy, Trent experienced pain and stiffness every day from the time he was a child. This limited his ability to play sports which he loved, and made it more difficult to read and do school work. He studied many forms of movement science, and in time he figured out how to repair his own body. This breakthrough enabled Trent to play sports, and he eventually moved on to become a professional dancer, performing on stages throughout the country and abroad. Now, Trent has developed the program “Fire Up Your Brain For Kids”. Today we’ll dive into how this program can help your child increase brain performance, enabling them to be at their best in the classroom and on the field.
7 Steps to Strong, Emotionally Intelligent Kids (and Adults) with Steven Hall
June 22, 2021 • 41 MIN
My guest today Steven Hall is a medical doctor who specializes in people with chronic problems that conventional medicine hasn't been able to help. For over 30 years he has watched his patients heal, sometimes from things that seem impossible, by addressing the root causes of their pain. They showed him that healing is a process; a deep transformational process, not a quick fix. And that healing is a practice that follows the same seven steps, which Dr. Steven calls The Seven Tools of Healing. He now coaches parents in how to raise their children to have a high level of emotional intelligence, so their children won't need so much healing work later as adults. He is married to a child-education and literature expert and, together, they have raised four children, several of whom home-schooled for parts of their education.
Overcome Dyslexia and Failure Diagnoses with Lois Letchford
June 29, 2021 • 39 MIN
My guest today, Lois Letchford had big dreams and hopes for her young boy Nicholas, like all moms do. After her son entered formal education, those dreams soon came crashing down. Her son failed first grade. His prognosis was dire. Testing revealed that he could only read 10 words, displayed no strengths and had a "low IQ." She was also told by a teacher that her son was "the worst child I've seen in 20 years of teaching," The diagnosis was compounded by "fixed" ideas on how to teach reading. She was driven to remove the label "worst child ever" and see him achieve at the highest levels. It wasn’t easy. She soon discovered her own dyslexia, but examining her reading failure caused her to adapt and change lessons for her son. The results were dramatic. Lois soon became a literacy specialist to assist other failing students. She is a cofounder of the Teaching Students With Dyslexia Writing & Reading Program. Lois and her son Nicholas are an inspiration for parents, teachers, and listeners to believe in themselves, to seek solutions beyond the “average,” and that they may achieve the impossible.
High Performance Psychology for Athletes and Performers with Jay Thooft
July 6, 2021 • 37 MIN
Do you have an aspiring athlete or performer at home? What do you think matters most to their success? Is it a natural ability? Skill? Determination? If you really want to know, my guest today Jay Tuft has the definitive answer. He’s a mental performance expert, coach, and teacher who worked at the United States Olympic Training Center. There he spent hundreds of sessions with the world's best athletes to elevate their performance. Jay’s tackled the mental side of so many sports - gymnastics, basketball, beach volleyball and so on - name a sport and he’s probably coached an athlete in it. His incredible success led him to start his own practice. Through Performance Excellence & Recovery Consulting (PERC), he’s bringing the benefits of mental training to athletes at all levels. He now oversees the mental performance training for 16 organizations and impacts over 5000 athletes, performers, executives, business owners, parents, and coaches every year. Today we’ll explore how you as a parent can support the athlete or performer in your family, to achieve their very best.
Cryptocurrency Made Safe and Easy with Alex Elliot
July 13, 2021 • 43 MIN
I’m really excited for today’s interview. Today we’re going to talk cryptocurrency, a topic I’m super passionate about for reasons that may surprise you and that we’ll get into on the show. My guest today and friend Alex S. Elliot is an early bitcoin and cryptocurrency investor, who started way back in 2013 with her first of many Bitcoin investments. I consider her one of the smartest people I know in the crypto space and someone I and many others turn to for guidance. These days, Alex helps regular folks like you and I earn Cryptocurrency Passively with her free, supportive FB Group, the Crypto Chill Lounge and her more advanced paid “Sat Stacker” Mastermind, where she dives deep into loads of passive crypto income strategies. I’ve been following and learning tons from Alex about crypto for quite some time now, so I asked her if she’d be willing to come on the show. Thankfully she agreed to come on to help you and your family unravel the incredible opportunity happening in the crypto space right now.
Genius Lab with Scott Steward
July 21, 2021 • 33 MIN
Today we’re in for a fun ride. With me today is the self proclaimed Jay Z of youth education. The Kanye West of business and tech education for youth. The Lil Durk of youth instruction. Big Stew, Scott Steward, or Professor Steward (depending on how you know him) grew up loving school, but hating learning, because it wasn’t fun. He had few teachers he could identify with, or who took an interest in him, and with little motivation, he struggled, leading to mediocre results in the classroom. Fast forward to today, and Scott is changing things for the better through Genius Lab. Genius Lab is a young entrepreneur mentoring program, especially for Black and Latinex youth, focused on careers in IT. At Genius Lab, the goal is to make learning fun, exciting, and useful… where every student feels valued and appreciated. Today we’ll explore how Scott is changing the world of education through Genius Lab and other pursuits, and riff on where education is heading.
Meet the best of both worlds: innovative online learning with in-person connection with Lizz Quain
July 27, 2021 • 32 MIN
Online learning options for students are exploding, especially over the last couple of years. There is more choice now than ever for families to choose from, which is a great thing. The problem is that word - online. We all need connection, and well, chatting through a Zoom screen just isn’t the same as face to face. And not everything can be done virtually either, like going outdoors. Many students like my son David are drawn to traditional school because they offer that in-person experience. Here-in lies an opportunity… What if… we could take the best of online learning, and marry it with a physical location where kids learned together? That’s exactly what my guest today is setting out to do. Lizz Quain is with Galileo, an innovative online school with a self-directed education model. It’s the school my son Graham attends. Lizz is leading an initiative to help students around the globe have the best of both online and in-person learning. She’s building a network of local dojos, or learning centres, and already has dozens of locations around the globe launching soon. If you would love the best of both worlds for your child, listen in and discover more about Galileo and what they are doing to revolutionize education. This is the future. You may decide you want to be a part of the solution, too, and start a dojo in your area. Let’s dive in.
Give Kids $1 Billion To Solve World Issues With Luke Hohmann
August 3, 2021 • 41 MIN
Today you get to meet Luke Hohmann - one of the most energetic, thoughtful people I know on the planet. We first met and also worked together during my days in the software industry as an Agile coach. I also had the privilege to help facilitate one of his Budget Games for the city of San Jose - citizens engaged in prioritizing the multi-million dollar city budget by playing a game to spend limited funds on a range of budgetary options. He’s now the Founder and CEO of FirstRoot, Inc., a Benefit Corporation devoted to creating greater economic equality. That’s a very complex problem, and Luke recognizes that it can’t be solved individually - we have to work together to come up with ideas and solutions, and then work together to make them happen. FirstRoot’s approach is to give youth financial literacy in a unique, fun way, through something called Participatory Budgeting. His audacious goal: student groups in 1M schools globally to each budget $1k and watch what happens when youth control $1B in capital. And by the time this episode launches, Luke and his team will have a version of Participatory Budgeting for families so together they can work out plans for money decisions like vacations and charitable giving. Today we’re going to explore how your family and school can tap into the power of Participatory Budgeting to build financial literacy skills and get youth involved in solving problems that matter.
Tap Into the Arts for 21st Century Skills with Shafik Mina
August 12, 2021 • 37 MIN
My guest today is on a mission to bring creativity back to the classroom. He believes and I agree that in traditional classrooms, kids are not developing the critical motor, language, social, and decision-making skills required in today’s world. This, despite 72% of business leaders in a recent survey saying that creativity is the #1 skill they seek when hiring. He realized he had to do something, and Imagine Arts Academy was born. Imagine Arts Academy delivers programs that combine traditional art with real-world applications and creative problem solving. These programs have been proven to help kids foster the creativity required for today’s world. My guest today, Shafik Mina is the CEO of 2inspire Kids, the parent company of Mad Science® Group and Crayola® Imagine Arts Academy. Mad Science and Imagine Arts Academy franchises are located in more than 23 countries around the world, bringing educational entertainment to millions of children each year through after-school programs, preschool programs, in-class workshops, camps, birthday parties and special events Today we’ll explore the unique approach Shafik is using to foster creativity and collaboration skills in kids, through hands-on STEM learning and progressive arts education.
Bridgemont - 1st Ever Online Montessori for Middle and High Schoolers with Robin Howe and Danielle Parker
August 17, 2021 • 43 MIN
Bridgemont International School provides an alternative for secondary students who want to graduate from a Montessori high school, but do not have that option in their community. As more students discover that learning online at home and in the local community works, Bridgemont aims to offer so much more than the typical home school program. I’m delighted to have two guests with me today - Dr. Robin Howe, Director of Bridgemont and Danielle Parker, one of the lead teachers and developers of the program. We’re going to explore the world of Montessori education and Bridgemont, this exciting new initiative in the online education space, launching this fall.
15 yr old Praja Tickoo Prepares Students of Today to Solve Tomorrow's Problems with Design Thinking
August 24, 2021 • 38 MIN
Today we’re excited to chat with an amazing 15-year-old student. Praja Tickoo is on a mission to empower students through the process of Design Thinking. Two years ago, Praja had an experience that changed his life forever. At an event called Design the Future, he collaborated with other youth to help design a better ankle brace for a multiple sclerosis patient. This experience taught him the power young people have to reshape their world. It also reinforced his conviction that problems can only be solved by questioning assumptions and involving those directly affected. At the same time, Praja noticed a lack of attention in the education system to core skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. He then founded Impact The Future, an organization aimed at teaching the process of design thinking to middle and high school students. The goal is to equip students with the ability to approach any problem and understand how to adapt to the rapidly changing future. Prepare the students of today to solve tomorrow's problems. Today we’ll explore how Praja, at the young age of 15 is changing the world.
The Original Human Education with Frank Forencich
August 31, 2021 • 47 MIN
So... what IS education for? We put in so much effort on education as parents and as students, so what is our WHY? Is it to ‘get kids into college’? To ‘get a good job’? Those common narratives from the educational establishment are weak at best. My guest today, Frank Forencich sees a real problem in that modern schooling lacks relevance. He sees the need for a narrative relevant to the future world students will inhabit. (climate change, ecological collapse, social ambiguity). Today we’ll talk about the ‘"original human education" that was universal through most of human history. We’ll explore the mismatch between our ancient human bodies, sculpted by evolution for success in wild, outdoor environments that now live in a radically different world, an alien, sometimes health-hostile environment. A To address these and other challenges, Frank will go over the "sapience curriculum." This is a list of subjects that he believes students need to study for survival/adaptation in the coming years. Frank is a writer, educator and movement teacher with a Paleo orientation. After studying human biology at Stanford, he traveled to Africa on several occasions to study human history and the ancestral environment. Frank has taught martial art for many years and is the author of several books about health and the human predicament. This is going to be a fascinating conversation, unlike any other we’ve had on this podcast.
The NEW and most important role parents must be for their child's success with Matt Barnes
September 7, 2021 • 45 MIN
Today's guest is one of the most unusual voices in education circles. His name is Matt Barnes and he believes that every role in education must shift, starting with the parent. His position is that the parent -- not the school -- must become the child's "Head Coach" and that good grades are no longer the aim. Instead, he coaches parents on how to build their kids into "independent learners." He has taught thousands of parents how to adopt a "Head Coach" mindset for their kids through workshops and educational podcasts. Today we’ll explore what parents need to do and most importantly, who they need to become, so your kids can thrive in the modern world.
Find Your Way At Wayfinding Academy with Michelle Jones
September 14, 2021 • 34 MIN
A lot of young people go to college or university because, well that’s what you are supposed to do. They spend a few years of their lives going through the motions of attending classes, and then hopefully on the other end, wind up with a degree that will serve them the rest of their lives. Oh, and accumulate a lot of debt in the process. Is that really serving young people? Too often the big choice offered to high schoolers is what college to pick, rather than what life to pick. My guest today is on a mission to change that narrative. Michelle Jones is doing her life's work right now, which is both exhilarating and terrifying. Her purpose in life is to help others figure out what they want to do with their lives and start doing it. She is the founder of Wayfinding Academy, which offers programs to do just that - help young people undercover what truly lights them up, and then prepare them for a career in that direction. Many graduates have gone straight from Wayfinding into fields that require no additional schooling but where having a strong network is essential, such as: event planning, carpentry, wildland firefighting, small business start-ups, teaching at alternative schools, and hospitality. Others have gone on to enroll in four-year colleges to make an impact in fields such as: education, biology, philosophy, and communications. And here’s an amazing statistic - 100% of Wayfinding students graduate debt-free. This is going to be an incredible conversation you won’t want to miss.
How to Get Into Med School with Shirag Shemmassian
September 21, 2021 • 41 MIN
Do you have a child interested in becoming a doctor? For those already in high school or post secondary, have you thought about what it takes for them to get into medical school? These days, getting into medical school is tougher than ever. There are so many variables to focus on - test scores, shadowing physicians, doing tons of extracurricular activities and getting great recommendation letters. And even with all that, it’s often not enough to get in. So how do you decide what to do? My guest today, Dr. Shirag Shemmassian faced a similar problem in his youth. He went to a small high school, and was determined to go to a top level school. He figured it out, and became the only Ivy League graduate in his high school’s nearly 60-year history. He’s now the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions, college admissions, and graduate school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school and top colleges. Over 90% of their students have gotten into at least one U.S med school - the first time they apply. He has figured out a method that works. Today, we’ll explore the ins and outs, the do’s and don’ts of your child getting into medical school to become the doctor they aspire to be. We’ll also explore ways to make med school more affordable. Today’s conversation will be full of valuable information you won’t want to miss.
Future of Education with David Caballero
September 28, 2021 • 33 MIN
David Caballero Pradas is hard to define in a few words. He’s done a lot of different things… genetic engineering of biological memories, negotiating deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars and building an adobe house. He has given lectures on leadership and has taken care of cleaning the bathrooms in a hostel. He has failed more times than he has tried at entrepreneurship; and has angered more people than he has inspired. He has lived in five countries and feels at home in many more. For the past two and a half years, he has been travelling with his partner Luz, researching innovative practices in education around the world. They’ve collected their discoveries in a new documentary called Killing Curiosity and in their online platform for parents and educators called Evolving Education. Today we’ll explore the discoveries they’ve made on the future of education.
Every Kid Can and Should Learn to Code (It's Not About The Code) with Hansel Lynn
October 5, 2021 • 33 MIN
Technology dominates most of our lives. Do you remember what life was like without a smartphone? Cars are basically now computers with 4 wheels, and in the future we’ll all have self-driving vehicles. Every aspect of life is affected by technology in one way or another. That in turn means the demand for computing skills is exploding. My guest today saw an opportunity to help children find joy and skill in coding. Hansel Lynn founded theCoderSchool to provide children aged 7 to 18 years with a welcoming environment to develop computer programming skills. They’ve been at this for over 6 years, with over 55 locations, 5500+ students, 800+ staff, and lots of happy parents and kids. They’ve also published 2 books on kids coding. But what sets them apart, and what they are most passionate about, is their Code Coaching approach. If your child has an interest in coding, or you’d like to give them that opportunity to explore this exciting space, today’s episode is for you.
Student Spotlight: Addie Lentzner is Changing the World
October 12, 2021 • 30 MIN
Today we shine a light on youth taking action in education and in the world. Addie Lentzner is a 17 year old with a passion for social change. She is the founder of the Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network. This group of students promotes anti-racism in schools through curriculum change. She’s involved in homelessness work, with an ambitious goal to house every person in her community. Addie is living proof that youth can and do make a difference, when given the opportunity. She’s joined by Richard Fransham, a former teacher and youth supporter to talk about Youth Rights Day, an event to promote the rights of youth and the issues they are fighting for so that we can build a better future for everyone. Graham joins me for this conversation, which we really enjoyed! Enjoy :)
Meet Prisma - Bringing Joy and Relevance to Education with Victoria Ransom
October 19, 2021 • 41 MIN
Victoria Ransom, founder & CEO of Prisma, her middle school alternative to the antiquated education system. But don't call Prisma a school - she prefers a Connected Learning Network that aims to bring joy to learning today, and prepare millions of kids to thrive in the world of tomorrow. She's a highly successful entrepreneur from New Zealand, most known for Wildfire Interactive, a social marketing SaaS company, sold to Google in 2012 for $450 million. Ransom was listed as one of Fortune's Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs as well as one of their 40 under 40 in 2012. In 2015, she was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum Now a mom, her mission has become far more personal. How can she prepare her child to thrive in a tumultuous, ever-changing world where we can’t even begin to imagine the careers that will exist? Today we take a deep dive into this modern education model called Prisma.
Can Charter Schools Modernize Public Education? with David Osborne
October 26, 2021 • 37 MIN
I’m excited to have on the show today a guest who has dedicated much of his life to reforming government and education. He’s on a quest to bring America’s public education into the 21st century, and there is one solution he believes is key to making that happen. Charter schools have produced what some experts believe to be the most rapid academic improvement in American history—and created a reform model that now other cities are trying. Now for 10 years David Osborne was a senior partner of The Public Strategies Group, a consulting firm that helped public organizations improve their performance. He worked with governments large and small, from cities, counties, and school districts to states, federal agencies, and foreign governments. He lectured widely around the globe and has advised presidents, ministers, governors, mayors, city managers and many other public sector leaders. David is currently emeritus director of the K-12 education work of the Progressive Policy Institute, a Democratic think tank in Washington DC. He is also an author or co-author of six nonfiction books, including Reinventing America’s Schools: Creating a 21st Century School System. Our main topic for today is how to modernize public education. We’ll take an in-depth look at charter schools.
Learning is Natural, School is Optional - the North Star Way with Ken Danford
November 2, 2021 • 41 MIN
For as long as there has been compulsory schooling, students have asked, “Do I really have to go to school through 12th grade? Isn’t there some other way?” The conventional answer most parents respond with is, “No, there is no other way. You just have to make the best of it.” That was what they did, and they survived. That answer didn’t satisfy Kenneth Danford. In 1996, he left his public school teaching job to help students live, learn, and grow in a different environment. He co-founded what became North Star, an alternative to middle school and high school. It’s not a school itself. It’s a Self Directed Learning education center for Teens. They help teens create a life that is meaningful and relevant to them. This experience includes a customized academic plan, weekly meetings with a personal advisor, quarterly family meetings, plus a variety of classes, workshops and tutorials. And they have provided this support to hundreds of students over the past two decades. Most North Star teens go on to college afterwards. Now Kenneth is spreading the North Star model across the world through Liberated Learners, a network of learning centers. He’s also published a book Learning is Natural, School is Optional, which tells the story of North Star. Yes, there are viable and often superior alternatives to traditional school. Today we’ll dive into what North Star is all about to see if that approach is a better fit for you and your family.
Student Spotlight: From College Dropout to Crypto King with Yann Hadade
November 9, 2021 • 45 MIN
Yann wasn’t an ideal student. He struggled with school, mostly getting bad grades. Not because he wasn't smart... he just wasn't motivated by what school had to offer. He did try university, because that is what his parents wanted him to do, and dropped out after the first year. Nothing seemed to fit, and he was determined not to settle... he would find a passion to put his time and energy into. His is a story of perseverance, of finding his own unique path. He discovered cryptocurrency at age 16, and over time, a passion that turned into a living. He now owns an e-sports team, has a Bitcoin mining facility and educates others on ways to invest in crypto. Kids these days have an incredible array of opportunities outside the traditional path of post secondary education. Are we as parents open to our kids taking an unconventional route? Today, we’ll get to know Yann’s story, from struggling student to a crypto kid on top of the world.
Create a Little Justice Leader with Shelby Kretz
November 16, 2021 • 27 MIN
My guest today, Shelby Kretz has a dream - to create a world where everyone is accepted for who they are. For her, that means we investing in the next generation. Alongside other topics like maths, sciences and the arts, they also need awareness of social justice. Parents play an important role in this, but talking about social justice issues can be hard. How can we make topics interesting? We might not feel we have enough knowledge on a topic. So Shelby created a fun program to help parents. Little Justice Leaders is a monthly box filled with conversation starters, activities, and other goodies, you can make these tough conversations fun and interesting for your little ones. Her passion is working with kids - she’s spent more than a decade creating fun learning experiences for kids and families. Today we’ll dive into the world of social justice education for younger kids, and how parents can nurture little justice leaders in their own home.
Educating Differently Wired Kids with Debbie Reber
November 23, 2021 • 42 MIN
I’m really excited for today’s show, which is especially for parents raising differently wired children - children with learning disabilities, ADHD, twice-exceptional, autism, sensory processing challenges, anxiety, giftedness and more. I didn’t realize that more than 20 percent of today’s children are in some way neurologically atypical. My guest today, Debbie Reber refers to this as “differently wired.” And because the world isn’t set up to accommodate their unique way of being, these exceptional kids and the parents raising them, struggle to navigate their journey. This is the situation Debbie found herself in as she raised her child Asher. And despite her attempts to get support, she discovered little out there that spoke to her situation. In 2016 Debbie created Tilt Parenting to help parents like her get the support they need. Since then, she’s given a TEDx talk and published the book Differently Wired: Raising an Exceptional Child in a Conventional World. Her podcast has over 3 million downloads. Educating differently wired kids - no better person on the planet to talk about this!
Overcome depression and anxiety with Karin Jabukowski
November 30, 2021 • 32 MIN
Covid restrictions have put enormous pressure on a lot of kids. One research study reveals that depression and anxiety in youth has doubled compared to pre-pandemic levels. One in 4 adolescents globally are experiencing clinically elevated depression symptoms, while 1 in 5 youth are experiencing clinically elevated anxiety symptoms." What we have is a global mental health crisis in youth. My guest today, Dr. Karin Jakubowski sees this first-hand. She’s a school principal, and has worked in education for over 20 years. She sees kids struggle in school. Some have behavioral issues, some just can't 'do school' as we know it. Through years of practice, she’s unlocked ways to help kids break through these barriers. Dr. Jakubowski is a well-respected international influencer on helping kids live happier, healthier lives, navigating through their most challenging moments. Karin now works directly with moms through her Momnificent program, so mom’s can build stronger and more meaningful relationships with their kids, and be the support their kids need. And ultimately, as a parent, sleep better at night! Today we’ll explore what you can do as a parent to help your kids be mentally and emotionally strong, no matter what life throws at them.
Cure for the Disintegrating Student with Jeannine Jannot
December 14, 2021 • 30 MIN
Dr. Jeannine Jannot is an academic coach and the author of The Disintegrating Student: Struggling But Smart, Falling Apart, and How To Turn It Around. She has over 25 years of experience working with children, teens, and young adults in both public and private school settings. In 2014 she founded The Balanced Student, which offers customized academic coaching for middle school, high school and college students. (and parents) Jeannine has a master's degree in school psychology from The Ohio State University and a doctorate in child and developmental psychology from the University of Connecticut. Today we'll explore: - Disintegrating students (students who hit a wall and fall apart - academically and emotionally). - Most anything parenting tweens/teens/young adults - communication, how we help and hinder growth
Mindful Mamas with Hunter Clarke-Fields
December 21, 2021 • 32 MIN
Have you ever reacted strongly to something your kid has done, and then later regretted how you handled it? Does this happen way more often than you’d care to admit? Include me in that camp! My guest today Hunter Clarke-Fields had her own breakthrough moment. Years ago, she noticed her young toddler was becoming fearful from momma’s yelling, and she knew something needed to change. Now Hunter is a mindful mama mentor. She is the creator of the Mindful Parenting course, host of the Mindful Mama Podcast, and Best Selling Author of Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids. Hunter’s non-judgmental, practical advice helps parents to bring more calm and peace into their daily lives. She has over twenty years of experience in meditation practices and has taught mindfulness to thousands worldwide. She is the mother of two active daughters, who challenge her every day to hone her craft!
Galileo Dads Talk - Living the Self Directed Life
February 7, 2022 • 62 MIN
This episode is a conversation between 4 dads with kids @ Galileo. At Galileo, there are families from all around the world who have chosen to home educate their children for a number of reasons. For some, it’s to suit a nomadic lifestyle or to break the status quo. For others, they’re fed up with the traditional schooling system and want to do more for their children. Listen in as we share our unique family journeys on education and everything in between. This conversation took place originally on Clubhouse, and Galileo was kind to let me share it with you all.