Karla Marie Williams is an author, a speaker, and global advocate of children and families. In this episode, we discuss her transition to homeschooling, then unschooling, with her six children and focus on the ideas and insights she shares in her book, Teens Unleashed . Some things we discussed: PUP- Periodic Unschooling Panic What parents can do to support their kids Reframing math, reading, and writing as “life skills” Addressing the question, "Do some kids need more structure?" The 5 Pillars ...
Sep 15, 2022•1 hr 25 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast Cindy Gaddis is back with even more amazing insights about right-brained dominant people. (You can find our first conversation in Episode 12 where she gives her backstory and lays the foundation for her research and the book she wrote, The Right Side of Normal: Understanding and Honoring the Natural Learning Path for Right-Brained Children.) In this almost two-hour long powerhouse episode, we cover a lot more ground and dig deeper into her work covering topics such as: the importance of finding ...
Aug 12, 2022•2 hr 43 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast Cindy Gaddis is a homeschooling mom to seven and the author of the book, The Right Side of Normal: Understanding and Honoring the Natural Learning Path for Right-Brained Children. In this episode, Cindy and I go over multiple topics covered in her book including: how she defines right-brained and left-brained, what the research says, the presenting characteristics of right-brained and left-brained learners, how the school environment favors left-brained learners, how to support our creative chil...
Jul 29, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast Dr. Lynne Baker-Ward, Professor Psychology, has been on the faculty of the Department of Psychology at NC State University since 1985. She was also one of MY professors when I attended N.C. State in the early 90s. Much of her work has examined the age-related cognitive changes that affect children’s capacities to provide testimony in legal proceedings, and the ways in which alternative approaches to the management of child witnesses affect the accuracy and completeness of young children’s report...
Jun 03, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast On this 10th episode of the Let 'em go Barefoot podcast, I interview Erich Leidums, a dad of three, an outdoor enthusiast, and the creator of the highly entertaining and fun-loving family adventure channel, That Mountain Life. Erich's approach to parenting and education are born from a space of trust and believing things will work out. It is both a peaceful and powerful lens to view the world. We talk about his early life experiences, how he and and his family got to this point in their lives, w...
May 06, 2022•56 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast Sue Patterson likely needs no introduction because she has been involved in the homeschooling and unschooling community for over 2 decades. With three grown children and one grandchild, she sits in that wonderful space of reflection and can offer us her unique perspective and insight. Sue is candid about the fears she had about homeschooling, including worrying about what other people would think. I so enjoyed talking to Sue and taking in her wisdom and humor. I have a feeling you will, too. Whe...
Apr 22, 2022•1 hr 24 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast Putting together these episodes is an activity that truly brings me joy and for the next hour, I believe you will feel joy as you listen to my guest, Isabelle Robledo talk about her life experiences and her passion for helping others get to know themselves. When Isabelle reached out to me about coming on the show, I did not think twice. I follow her on Instagram @makingmindfulnessfun and love the content she shares…plus it is wonderful to watch how self-directed education plays out in the later ...
Apr 08, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast Have you thought about where your ideas and beliefs about parenting come from? Have you considered that the relationships we have with others is primarily a nervous system experience? In this conversation, I talk to Erica who is a conscious parenting coach. She explains the road she takes to get here, including the anxiety and reactivity that were part of parenting her first born. I imagine many of us can relate to the nervousness and worry that comes with parenting our first child. And while we...
Mar 25, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast According to Deena, a Holistic and Integrative Health Coach, we all have a food story. However, many of us have not brought this story forward. We may not even realize why we have certain attitudes about food or how particular beliefs around health and eating have influenced us. In this episode, Deena and I discuss many ideas and beliefs around food including personal stories that have impacted our relationship with nutrition and food over the years But also, how we can bring peace, joy, and bea...
Mar 11, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast I am thrilled to have Nicolette of Mamas Roots are Showing on the podcast again. You were first introduced to her in the second episode, “When Did you Know”. Today, however, we cover A LOT more ground. Growing up as a 4th generation farming family, being close to the land is 2nd nature to Nicolette, so naturally, we talk about farming and gardening, our own connections to nature, and raising children outdoors. We also talk about creating community, what it means to be a peaceful parent, the impo...
Feb 11, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, I talk all things books with Nicole who is the creator of the Instagram page, Book Led Learning. We discuss what it looks like to create a culture of reading within your family, being open to our children choosing the books that speak to them versus controlling their choices, and how books not only connect us to knowledge and information, but to one another. We touch on the differences in when children read and how they interact with books, incorporating fiction and non-fiction,...
Jan 28, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast On this 3rd episode of the Let 'em go Barefoot podcast, I have a conversation with Robyn Roberston, the creator of the Honey! I'm Homeschooling the Kids podcast and community. Robyn and I talk about flexibility, how we evolve as parents as our children grow and change, and the power of supporting our kids, ourselves, and receiving community support. Plus, you get to hear about a special interest of Robyn's that may surprise you! Find all the wonderful ways to connect with Robyn below: Website &a...
Jan 14, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast This 2nd episode of the Let 'em go Barefoot podcast is a compilation of stories from five mothers across the United States and Canada answering the question, "When did you know the traditional schooling model was not right for your family?" Several moms have a background in education, including teaching in public schools, but as you will hear, their teaching experience does not make them feel more qualified to homeschool. If anything, it encouraged them to take the leap because of what they witn...
Nov 01, 2021•43 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast In this first episode of the Let 'em go Barefoot podcast, I have a conversation with my son about his experiences as a (mostly) lifelong unschooler. We discuss common misconceptions about self-directed education and reflect on his K-12 learning journey. He offers insights on parenting and education that drive home the importance of a parent's presence and respect for each child's unique unfolding. We also have a little fun at the end with a few questions of "Would You Rather?" and he ends with s...
Aug 31, 2021•58 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast 
