Radical Learning Talks

The podcast discusses the challenges and opportunities when a child wants to try or go back to school after being unschooled. It explores the fears and anxieties about time constraints in education, rethinks societal expectations and timelines, and emphasizes the importance of creating a counterbalance at home centered on consent, respect, and strong relationships.

In this episode, we hang out with Tomis Parker, one of the co-founders of the ALC model and of the ASDE, and dive deep into the diversity, struggles and evolution of the agile learning world.  Tomis is an unschooling dad and is passionate about sharing the ALC model and contributing to systemic & social change through building bridges to and through the work of SDE.  We also talk about our shared experience of having unschooling kids who prefer learning outside a learning center, and the challenges that are present when you are the one running it!  This episode is definitely for anyone who wants to know more about ALCs, who might be running one and having challenges and or/who is considering starting one! But also for parents who are navigating how to live as a self-directed family or feel like going bold and brave and start unschooling.  

Meet Ophelia, an 18 year old Unschooler that shares their perspectives around unschooling and the ways parents can get so invested in unschooling that they forget the most important part: consent and needs of their kids. Who does unschooling really support, the parent or the kid and how can we move towards more connection and collaboration with our kids?

There is a really clear idea in society of what skills have more value than others for our growing young people, and usually on top you will find reading, writing and math. But what happens when your kid (or even you) aren’t big readers and what are the feelings and fears around that?! In this episode we scratch the surface of this multilayered theme around hierarchy of skills and what lurks beneath. We kinda slip slide all over in this episode, so bear with us as we explore our own programmings and the work we are doing to free ourselves and our kids.

Limits? Boundaries? What's the difference? What are they about? In this episode, we dive into the deep waters of needs, emotions and what boundaries are really about: self-discovery and understanding ourselves, and how to learn how to honor our needs and develop empathy with ourselves and with others.

Ahhhh our kids want to quit something! What do we do? If they dont push through they will never learn..  These are thoughts old versions of ourselves can relate to and we see so common in parenting. We often fall into wanting to "support" by pushing our kids - or let's be honest - manipulate them.  We think there are so many benefits to sticking to whatever it is they're doing, and often we might feel some urgency - like as if it's now or never.  But there are so many more things to consider that have nothing to do what WE want - and everything to do what our kids want and need. In this episode of Radical Learning Talks we talk about this and how to navigate when our kids want to quit or "give up".

Does unschooling really work? Well, in this episode of Radical Learning Talks we chat with Alex Khost a long time unschooling father, facilitator & youth right’s advocate who shares how it’s not only possible, it’s in fact a reality for many. He shares stories from his 20+ years of advocating for & supporting youth on how to be present & build trusting relationships with kids and how he has witnessed youth thrive outside of conventional systems. Whether you are an unschooling parent, facilitator or human wishing to connect with and support kids… this one's for you! Find out more about his work here: www.flyingsquads.org www.alexanderkhost.org

“But Sari & Becka, how do you deschool without kids?” We were recently asked this question and it’s also one that we have been trying to find the words to speak to as we offer deschooling intensive training for both parents & adults supporting youth! The answer... deschooling actually has nothing to do with kids or school, it has to do with the many layers of conditioning that we peel back in order to heal and reconnect to ourselves. Sounds fluffy? It's a hard thing to explain in a podcast description, so listen in to hear our perspective of what deschooling means to us and how it applies to all people, parents or non-parents alike.

Unschooling can sound really wonderful, and in theory so many of us are totally on board with the concept. But then we start practicing it with our kids, and suddenly it no longer feels that amazing. Doubts and fears pop up and we wobble and wonder if this is really for us. Maybe it doesn't work? Should we just throw in the towel, or are there other options? In this episode we talk about all of this and what we can do instead of giving up on what can turn into the most amazing lifestyle for all the members of your family. 

There is so much talk in unschooling/ deschooling circles around supporting younger kids, but we seldom hear about what unschooling with tweens/ teens does or can look like. What we tend to hear most is lots of fear or assumptions around supporting these youth… they are gonna be lazy, rebellious, lost, unsuccessful, etc. etc.  In this episode we bust these and more myths and talk about what has been helpful for us in supporting tweens/ teens in their free living & learning process.