The OpenEd Podcast

Ela Richmond sits down with Tess Scholl, mother and founder of Knowledge Seekers, a student-led learning program based in Portland, Oregon. Tess shares her journey from being home educated in Australia during a time where homeschooling was illegal to now creating a revolutionary educational program that puts children and families first. Discover how giving children a voice in their education can foster confidence, creativity, and joy in learning.(00:00) - Introduction to Tess Scholl(01:00) - Early homeschooling experiences in Australia(03:00) - College as a turning point in education(06:00) - Why letting kids be kids matters(08:00) - The importance of childhood discovery and joy(13:00) - Building confidence and self-worth in children(17:00) - Balancing validation and challenge in education(24:00) - The birth of Knowledge Seekers(29:00) - Student collaboration example: The spontaneous play(34:00) - Curriculum recommendations and resources(36:00) - Tips for homeschool parents(38:00) - Finding and building community(42:00) - Biggest challenges in homeschooling

When normal is broken, weird wins. Matt Bowman and Matt Barnes discuss why entrepreneurship might be the most powerful education tool we've never fully utilized. Matt Barnes shares powerful insights from his experience on 10 school boards and raising three children who each took radically different educational paths. The former school board member turned "Parent Whisperer" reveals why traditional education is failing our kids - and how entrepreneurship might be the solution. Learn why some of the most successful young people are breaking away from traditional education, and how parents can support their children's unique learning journeys without fear. ⏰ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction to the Double Matt B's 01:22 Why entrepreneurship matters more than calculus 03:23 The "Parent Whisperer" origin story 05:56 Why parents fear different educational paths 07:21 "When normal is broken, weird wins" 09:17 Three different paths: A family case study 11:55 The Homeless Bakery Project 14:19 What youth really need to learn 16:23 Three key entrepreneurial skills 19:11 What we look for in Youth Award applications 24:20 The future of work: Value over credentials 27:12 Social entrepreneurship and community impact 28:31 The problem with "teaching to the middle" 32:13 Building entrepreneurial muscle

How do great authors build compelling worlds? Jennifer Jenkins, bestselling YA author and StoryCon founder, reveals the essential questions behind every great story. Whether you're a methodical plotter or spontaneous "pantser," discover how understanding writing rules lets you break them effectively. Perfect for young writers, creative writing students, and anyone interested in the craft of storytelling. In this episode: - The power of "what if?" in storytelling - Essential world-building techniques - Plotting vs. Pantsing: choosing your path - When and how to break writing rules - Building creative confidence Featuring Jennifer Jenkins, President of Operation Literacy and co-founder of StoryCon. [00:00] - The Hidden Power of Stories [03:31] - Inside StoryCon: A Literary Giants' Gathering [05:04] - Why Kids Don't Need Permission to Dream Big [06:12] - From Reading Struggles to Publishing Success: Jennifer's Story [09:12] - The 80% Rule: Why Meeting Authors Changes Everything [10:24] - How Seeing Authors as Human Changes Everything [11:32] - Inside Operation Literacy's Author Validation System [13:42] - The "What If" Secret to Writing Great Stories [15:34] - Why Research is Actually Writing (The Wikipedia Method) [17:28] - The Hidden Architecture of World Building [20:41] - The Negative Space: What Great Authors Don't Tell You [23:12] - Breaking the Rules: The Framework for Creative Freedom [26:22] - Finding Your Tribe: The Power of Creative Community [29:24] - Why OpenEd and StoryCon Share the Same DNA Want even more? Sign up for the OpenEd Daily newsletter at https://opened.co for practical tips and insights about more open and innovative approaches to education. Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-opened-podcast/id1760216903 https://open.spotify.com/show/6Kf7SZ8XASA6tSqMEuHmVC Follow us on social: https://www.instagram.com/openedHQ https://www.facebook.com/openedhq https://x.com/OpenEdHQ https://www.linkedin.com/company/openedhq/

COVID created a deep shift in education, uniting parents like never before. In this conversation, Grant Hewitt – VP of Partnerships at OpenEd – unpacks how Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs) have evolved from simple school choice to true educational freedom, and why the movement is exploding across America. (00:00) - The COVID Moment That Changed Everything (01:00) - The Evolution: From Public Schools to Freedom (04:00) - How One Church Changed Grant's Educational Journey (07:00) - The Explosion of Educational Freedom Across States (14:00) - The Real Problem: Getting Money to Families (17:00) - Why Vouchers Fall Short: Moving "From Box to Box" (21:00) - Tax Credits: The Hidden Challenges (25:00) - ESAs: The Second-Best Path to Freedom (31:00) - The Micro-School Revolution (39:00) - The Truth About "Fraud" vs. "Misuse" (42:00) - Why Homeschool Parents Are Incredibly Efficient (45:00) - Don't Force the Divorce: The Future of Education (47:00) - The Idaho Experiment That Shocked Everyone

What drives parents to switch schools in 2025? From microschools to homeschooling, traditional to charter, National School Choice Foundation's Andrew Campanella reveals why 220% more parents are exploring alternative education - and it's not what experts predicted. (00:00) - Why School Choice Isn't About Politics (It's Personal) (02:29) - The First Step Most Parents Miss When Choosing Schools (03:50) - How COVID Changed Everything: The 220% Surge in Alternative Education (06:12) - The Hidden Reason Parents Don't Act Like Education Consumers (08:19) - Why Traditional Grading is Failing Our Kids (11:03) - Breaking Free from the "School Should Look Like This" Mindset (15:25) - The Wake-Up Call: When No Teacher Stayed a Full Year (17:09) - The Surprising Truth About Education Reform (25:39) - The Transportation Problem Nobody Wants to Talk About (27:03) - Real Stories: How Parents Are Actually Using School Choice (32:56) - The "Best Students Will Leave" Myth Debunked (35:18) - Why Smart Schools Are Treating Parents Like Customers (39:27) - The Forgotten Students: What Happens When Parents Don't Choose? (42:36) - Beyond Politics: The Real Reasons Parents Switch Schools (47:31) - Why Most Parents Shouldn't Jump Ship (Yet) Want even more? Sign up for the OpenEd Daily newsletter at https://opened.co for practical tips and insights about more open and innovative approaches to education. Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-opened-podcast/id1760216903 https://open.spotify.com/show/6Kf7SZ8XASA6tSqMEuHmVC Follow us on social: https://www.instagram.com/openedHQ https://www.facebook.com/openedhq https://x.com/OpenEdHQ https://www.linkedin.com/company/openedhq/

OpenEd podcast sits down with the director and showrunner of the hit 2024 movie “Homestead” from Angel Studios to talk about how unconventional education led them to success in Hollywood. From touring with major bands to directing feature films, discover how thinking outside the box and learning through real-world experience shaped their creative journey. Featured Guests: Ben Smallbone - Director of "Homestead" Ben Kasica - Former Skillet guitarist, Showrunner and producer of "Homestead" Go see the movie: https://www.homestead.tv/home https://www.angel.com/shows/homestead-series Chapters: (00:00) - Why Film School Could Kill Your Career (03:12) - From Tactical Training to Major Film Production (08:45) - The Homeschool Journey: Building a Creative Family Empire (13:22) - Learning on Film Sets: A New Kind of Education (17:52) - From Skillet to Showrunner: An Unconventional Path (26:33) - Breaking New Ground: Film to TV Series Innovation (31:45) - The Real Truth About Breaking Into Hollywood (37:20) - For King & Country: Success Without Diplomas (43:15) - The Power of Boredom in Creativity Want even more? Sign up for the OpenEd Daily newsletter at https://opened.co for practical tips and insights about more open and innovative educational approaches. Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-opened-podcast/id1760216903 https://open.spotify.com/show/6Kf7SZ8XASA6tSqMEuHmVC Follow us on social: https://www.instagram.com/openedHQ https://www.facebook.com/openedhq https://x.com/OpenEdHQ https://www.linkedin.com/company/openedhq/

The greatest skill you can teach a child is believing they can fly before society tells them they can't. Our latest podcast guest Mark Hyatt has been teaching kids to do just that - literally - through Falcon AeroLab, an OpenEd partner course that pairs an online curriculum with an opportunity to take a live flight with a trained pilot. Listen to learn: Rapid growth of aerospace education programs High-paying job opportunities without traditional college paths How to acquire hands-on learning in aviation The importance of exposure to non-traditional career options Addressing gender and racial disparities in the field Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:06 The Inspiration Behind Falcon AeroLab 03:36 Mark Hyatt's Personal Journey 07:15 The Importance of Character and Trust in Aviation 15:07 Challenges and Opportunities in K-12 Education 25:25 Success Stories and Future Goals 28:05 Safety and Risk in Aviation Education 31:33 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Open education student success stories! Matt and Isaac share examples of young entrepreneurs and answer your biggest homeschool questions. From teaching financial literacy to handling family criticism, this Q&A episode tackles real homeschool challenges. ✨ SUCCESS STORIES & TOPICS COVERED: 00:00 Teen turns garden box business into $150k success 02:30 Small-town teen builds thriving dog breeding business 09:45 Teaching financial literacy through entrepreneurship 13:45 How to handle critical family members 19:45 Building friendships in homeschooling 24:30 GED vs dual enrollment for early graduation 33:45 Enriching curriculum for different learning speeds 43:30 Managing screen time and device obsession 💡 KEY HIGHLIGHTS: How a 17-year-old used 3D modeling skills to build a successful garden box business Creative ways to teach kids about money (including the "Bank of Dad" method) Tips for preparing kids to handle questions at family gatherings Why some kids take longer to build friendships (and why that's okay) Practical strategies for balancing screen time with learning

A former award-winning teacher and principal shares his journey from dedicating 14 years to public education to becoming an advocate for educational freedom. This conversation reveals why our education system needs transformation and how innovative alternatives are already showing the way forward. Follow guest at @Principal_Jon on X. Chapters 00:00 The Unchanging Face of Education 00:26 Introduction to John England 00:49 John's Journey in Education 02:14 Challenges in the Public School System 05:13 Transition to Homeschooling 05:27 The Middle School Struggle 06:49 The Importance of School Choice 12:29 The Role of Non-Teaching Staff 19:29 Innovative Education Models 25:22 The Stagnation of Public Education 26:13 The Need for Flexibility in Public Schools 28:17 Innovations in Response to School Choice 31:18 Rethinking High School Education 34:11 Exploring Alternatives to College 36:48 The Value of Real-World Experience 40:16 The Benefits of Early Career Exploration 44:10 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

"A system that prioritizes a kid's address over his aspirations... it's not one I aspire to." – Derrell Bradford The education landscape is evolving, from traditional public schools to innovative hybrid models. Derrell Bradford, president of 50CAN, shares insights from their 20,000-family survey and discusses why the future of education isn't about choosing between public or private – it's about reimagining the entire system. Why school choice is gaining momentum across diverse political environments The surprising truth about how families from different income levels make education decisions How "bundle plus" vs "half bundle" education models are reshaping learning options Why teacher satisfaction increases in markets with more educational freedom What 20,000 families revealed about the real state of educational opportunity in America How ESAs (Education Savings Accounts) are revolutionizing school finance Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Open Ed Podcast 00:25 Meet Darrell Bradford: Education Advocate 00:58 The Role of 50CAN in Education Reform 03:50 Personal Anecdotes and School Choice 06:52 The Emotional Impact of School Lotteries 10:35 Market Forces in Education 15:00 Innovative Education Models and Teacher Opportunities 22:14 State of Educational Opportunity in America 22:30 Introduction to the Project 23:39 Survey Methodology and Execution 24:33 Key Findings from the Survey 26:29 Parental Involvement and Satisfaction 28:36 Challenges and Barriers in Education 33:45 School Choice and Education Systems 40:17 The Role of the Department of Education 44:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts