We're sharing some of the most-loved episodes from our archives. Here's #17! We do two episodes a week—this is our free one. Join us on Patreon to unlock a NEW episode every week for just $5/month! #17: Where Autopilot Save the Day This episode originally aired on November 13, 2017. Do you need to simplify your days? Or do you need something easy to get you through a stressful day, week or season? Today Maren and Angela talk about the idea of Autopilot and how they use it to lower stress and sim...
Mar 28, 2022•43 min•Ep. 176
We're tackling a listener question about talking with our kids about puberty, sex, romantic relationships, and the resources we've found helpful. Subscribe and listen to the full episode now at patreon.com/homeschoolunrefined .
Mar 24, 2022•5 min
We're sharing some of the most-loved episodes from our archives. Here's #18! We do two episodes a week—this is our free one. Join us on Patreon to unlock a NEW episode every week for just $5/month! #18: Where We Follow Their Interests This episode originally aired on November 5, 2018. Ever wonder how interest-led learning even works? Ever wonder what it even is?!? We’re here for you! We define it (in our own Homeschool Unrefined words), we walk through how it benefits our kids and can be an idea...
Mar 21, 2022•52 min•Ep. 175
Getting ready for the Oscars, shows we're bingeing, and more of what we're Loving This Week! Subscribe and listen to the full episode now at patreon.com/homeschoolunrefined .
Mar 17, 2022•5 min
We're sharing some of the most-loved episodes from our archives. Here's #19! We do two episodes a week—this is our free one. Join us on Patreon to unlock a NEW episode every week for just $5/month! #19: Where We October (2018) Check-In This episode originally aired on October 29, 2018. We chose this episode because it's about the ordinary stuff of life that we all need to process! It’s check-in day, which is quickly becoming our favorite! This week we update each other on past all-important LTWs...
Mar 14, 2022•59 min•Ep. 174
Today we're processing through a much requested topic - all the pros/cons of homeschool vs public school. Hint: there's no winner! Well, the winner is YOU when you choose what's best for your family. Subscribe and listen to the full episode now at patreon.com/homeschoolunrefined .
Mar 11, 2022•5 min
We're sharing some of the most-loved episodes from our archives. Here's #20! We do two episodes a week—this is our free one. Join us on Patreon to unlock a NEW episode every week for just $5/month! #20: Permission to Cancel School This Year This episode originally aired on March 8, 2021. We’re just gonna say it: You don’t have to do school this year. In this episode, we’re talking about why it’s ok to skip academics and prioritize mental health and life learning. This is specific to our current ...
Mar 07, 2022•46 min•Ep. 173
This is the fifth and final episode in our "How We Homeschool" series. We've talked with different homeschool parents all season to hear about their philosophies, insights, and experiences. We're closing out this season with someone who was on our dream guest list from Day 1—and Rachel Jepson Wolf did not disappoint! Rachel and her two kids (now teens) have been homeschooling from the beginning when Rachel made an unexpected U-turn on the way to Kindergarten. Their eclectic, project-based homesc...
Dec 06, 2021•51 min•Ep. 172
Back by popular demand! We can’t—and we shouldn’t!—do everything. So we’re sharing 10 specific things we DON’T do anymore. This isn’t about copying our lists of don't do's—it’s about identifying the things you can take off your plate so you can do more of the things that light you up! This episode is sponsored by Nexbooks . Get your free trial today at nexbooks.org and get 10% off your subscription by using discount code: unrefined . A total dream come true... We’ve partnered with Sparkle Storie...
Nov 29, 2021•59 min•Ep. 171
This is the fourth episode in our "How We Homeschool" series. We're talking with different homeschool parents all season to hear about their philosophies, insights, and experiences. Deb Shin is a video games marketer turned homeschooler. Deb shares about her homeschool to unschool journey—from Charlotte Mason homeschooling to realizing she was inadvertently school-at-home homeschooling, followed by her initial skepticism about unschooling to becoming self-directed unschoolers blending video game...
Nov 22, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 170
We're tackling a common homeschool conundrum: socialization. Listener Leigh writes, "A topic that is on my mind a lot is community and socialization. This topic feels a bit taboo in homeschool communities. We say, 'It's all socializing!' and don't address the very real needs of kids to have peers and a close group of friends." In this Question & Processing episode from Patreon , we're sharing our own thoughts on this often misunderstood concept. We’ve answered dozens of listener questions li...
Nov 15, 2021•45 min•Ep. 169
This is the third episode in our "How We Homeschool" series. We're talking with different homeschool parents all season to hear about their philosophies, insights, and experiences. Iris Chen is our guest this week, and we couldn’t be more excited! You might be familiar with Iris’s work on Instagram account @untigering and her book Untigering (which we LOVED). We talk with Iris about healing and shifting away from authoritarian parenting toward more collaborative, peaceful parenting and how that ...
Nov 08, 2021•47 min•Ep. 168
“How do I get my kid to ____?” "Why won't my child _____?" Have you ever found yourself asking those questions? (We’ve all been there!) We’re devoting a whole episode to this very common homeschool and parenting dilemma. Whether you're getting reluctance about a school subject, a household chore, or even a fun extracurricular activity, we’ll break down why your child might be reluctant and what to do about it. And some of our suggestions might surprise you! This episode is sponsored by NaliniKID...
Nov 01, 2021•47 min•Ep. 167
This is the second episode in our "How We Homeschool" series. We'll be talking with different homeschool parents all season to hear about their philosophies, insights, and experiences. Let's meet Faryal! She homeschools her 4 kids, ages 7-17. Faryal shares how teaching influenced her philosophy of homeschool, how her homeschool has changed over the years, and how she evolved from a classical home educator to a more relaxed, eclectic homeschooler. Get a glimpse into her curriculum choices, homesc...
Oct 25, 2021•45 min•Ep. 166
Not sure which is more daunting: figuring out our kids' educational options, or getting on the same page with our partner about those options! This is a topic that has come up A LOT in our conversations with other parents, so we're processing our own stories about making school / homeschool decisions with our partners. We also share 3 tips to help you have these conversations with your partner. Join us on Patreon this week where we'll be talking with our partners! This episode is sponsored by Na...
Oct 18, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 165
This is the first episode in our "How We Homeschool" series. We'll be talking with different homeschool parents all season to hear about their philosophies, insights, and experiences. Tanya from Project Happy Home is with us to share her story and insights as a doctor-lawyer turned secular homeschooling mom of 3 kids. We chat curriculum, routines, and her perspective on finding community in person and online. We really love how Tanya doesn't let labels limit her homeschool style. We have MORE wi...
Oct 11, 2021•59 min•Ep. 164
We're back and kicking off our fall podcast season with some BIG personal updates. We hope you'll find some camaraderie in the stories we share and the changes our families are going through. Let's normalize all different kinds of learning experiences and choices families can make! And don't miss our 3 essential tips for a successful fall. This episode is sponsored by NaliniKIDS. Help your kids reflect on the words in their lives with WORD Workouts , a free lesson library for kids 4-18 from Nali...
Oct 04, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 163
You're getting another mini-episode! We couldn't resist answering a listener question about diverse and inclusive books. Back to School Summit : LAST CHANCE! Looking for practical *and* inspirational support as we head into a new school year? Check out our Back to School Summit! This summit is for new and experienced homeschoolers to inspire and equip us to design a SUSTAINABLE school year. We’ll help keep your homeschool simple, real, and fun by reframing your expectations and giving you real-l...
Aug 25, 2021•32 min•Ep. 162
You're getting a mini-episode! Back to school support, a listener question about family time, and our LTWs! Back to School Summit Looking for practical *and* inspirational support as we head into a new school year? Check out our Back to School Summit! This summit is for new and experienced homeschoolers to inspire and equip us to design a SUSTAINABLE school year. We’ll help keep your homeschool simple, real, and fun by reframing your expectations and giving you real-life solutions based on our 2...
Aug 12, 2021•27 min•Ep. 161
Are you ready for this? It's time to rethink everything you think you know about "screens" and how kids learn. We're making a case for why YouTube beats a science textbook, why PBS Kids is can be more than a pre-dinner pacifier, and why even Marvel movies (yes, Marvel movies) are worthy of being a central part of your homeschool. We hope you'll feel inspired (and feel the freedom!) to ditch your lesson plans and enjoy some great shows with the kids--because this is totally amazing and totally re...
Apr 26, 2021•43 min•Ep. 160
We’re sharing our 10 favorite books we’ve read this year--from picture books we read aloud to graphic novels our kids loved to the stories we couldn’t put down. These are the books that stood out from all the rest in our homeschool year. Shop this booklist (and all the other books we’ve loved) at bookshop.org/shop/homeschoolunrefined . Plus, you can join us on Patreon to hear our conversation about homeschooling through puberty. Aha Moment "Our kids still need 1-on-1 time with us. Even when we’r...
Apr 19, 2021•39 min•Ep. 159
Spring brings an impulse to slow down and simplify. Rather than look at it like it's a slump, we're reframing things: it's ok to change our pace! We talk about the value of taking a break, evaluate what's serving us and giving us life, and set up some "tentpoles" for summer. Plus, you can join us on Patreon to hear our conversation about learning styles. Aha Moment "Let your kids high standards stay high when it comes to learning. " -Maren Listener Question Join us on Patreon where we're answeri...
Apr 12, 2021•48 min•Ep. 158
Mealtimes can serve as both an anchor to our days... and a total headache. The unending-ness of meal making can leave us bored, overwhelmed, and out of ideas by the time dinner rolls around every night. So what can we do to make meals easier? Listen as we share our tips and tricks, along with some creative solutions from our listeners, too. Join Patreon to see more responses and join the conversation! Mentions The 6 o’Clock Scramble Hello Fresh Green Chef Imperfect Foods Check out the newest add...
Apr 05, 2021•54 min•Ep. 157
When there’s joy, there’s learning! We're talking all about hobbies in our homeschool: the why, the how, and all the ways these seemingly trivial activities and interests can actually unlock deep learning, self-confidence, and lifelong joy for our kids. As always, you’ll also get an Aha Moment and our LTWs at the end. Plus you can join us on Patreon to hear us talk through this week’s listener question. Takeaways -Hobbies are something we do because we want to, and doing something because you wa...
Mar 29, 2021•39 min•Ep. 156
We've been answering listener questions all season over on Patreon , and we wanted to share one of those exclusive episodes with you! Ashley asked the questions many of us are wrestling with right now: “I want to feel ok with doing less and just letting learning happen naturally, but I feel like public school stole the spark of love for learning from my 8-year old who went to K and 1st. How do I bring the spark back?” She also asked about unschooling (can I really do it?), finding a rhythm (HOW?...
Mar 22, 2021•25 min•Ep. 155
This is a special pilot episode of a new project: Unrefined Education. The last year has given us an opportunity to change how we do school, so we want to take a look back at what we've learned from a year of pandemic schooling and imagine how we can use this last year as a catalyst for real change. We'll cover the state of school, how kids actually learn, and what we propose schools can and should do to prioritize child and teen mental health as we reopen. About Unrefined Education If you’ve li...
Mar 15, 2021•45 min•Ep. 154
We’re just gonna say it: You don’t have to do school this year. In this episode, we’re talking about why it’s ok to skip academics and prioritize mental health and life learning. This is specific to our current pandemic circumstances, but it also applies to any season of life when things just aren’t “normal”: sickness, job loss, moving, traveling, having a baby. Because whatever you’re living through, THAT is the learning experience. Takeaways -Even if you were homeschooling before the pandemic,...
Mar 08, 2021•44 min•Ep. 153
It seems like we parents always want to know how everyone else is handling chores, yet chores are also (surprisingly) personal! We all have different standards, different capacity, and different families. We share how we think about chores in general, our why behind doing (and NOT doing) chores with our kids, what chores look like for us now with tweens and teens, and what chores looked like when our kids were younger. As always, you’ll get our LTWs at the end, and we’ve added a new listener que...
Mar 01, 2021•44 min•Ep. 152
We’re back with brand new episodes! This week, we’re sharing updates on how homeschool is going and what it looks like for each of us in this season of life. Maren shares her “Aha Moment” about including our kids in solving household problems and sharing responsibilities. Plus, you’re getting a preview of what’s coming up this podcast season. As always, you’ll get our LTWs at the end, and we’ve added a new listener question segment! Join us on Patreon to hear us answer this week’s questions. Aha...
Feb 22, 2021•48 min•Ep. 151
In our previous episode ( 149: What We Don’t Do ), we talked about the different ways we set boundaries and take stuff off our plates. Well, we’re gonna take our own advice! We had planned to do one more episode for this fall season, but… we need to take some things off our plates so we’re starting our break a little sooner than planned. We're wrapping up with a quick check in and (SHARED!) LTW. While our season here has ended, we’ll still be recording new episodes for our $5 Squad on Patreon th...
Dec 07, 2020•26 min•Ep. 150
