LiberatED Podcast
Kerry McDonald
The LiberatED Podcast tells the stories of the entrepreneurial parents and teachers who are creating innovative K-12 learning options across the US and expanding education options for families.
This twice-weekly podcast is hosted by Kerry McDonald, a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education and leader of the Education Entrepreneurship Lab. A regular contributor at Forbes.com and The 74, Kerry is the bestselling author of Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom (Chicago Review Press, 2019), and the author of the forthcoming book, Joyful Learning: How To Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling (Hachette, 2025). She has a BA in economics from Bowdoin College and a master’s degree in education policy from Harvard University. A mom of four, Kerry lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter at edentrepreneur.org.
This twice-weekly podcast is hosted by Kerry McDonald, a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education and leader of the Education Entrepreneurship Lab. A regular contributor at Forbes.com and The 74, Kerry is the bestselling author of Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom (Chicago Review Press, 2019), and the author of the forthcoming book, Joyful Learning: How To Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling (Hachette, 2025). She has a BA in economics from Bowdoin College and a master’s degree in education policy from Harvard University. A mom of four, Kerry lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter at edentrepreneur.org.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 5, 2024 • 31min
From 10 students to over 2,000: How Chesterton Schools grew from one microschool to a network of 70+ high schools
Dale Ahlquist is the cofounder of Chesterton Academy in Hopkins, Minnesota. What started in 2008 as a microschool with 10 students, including some of his own children, has grown into a flagship location with over 150 high schoolers, as well as a global network of over 70 Classical Catholic Chesterton Schools educating more than 2,000 students. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Jul 2, 2024 • 35min
A middle school teacher in NJ gets ready to launch her microschool
Amanda Lucas, founder of Lucas Literacy Lab, a middle school microschool in Middlesex County, New Jersey opening this fall. She taught in charter and private schools across New York City for nearly a decade before becoming an education entrepreneur and joining the KaiPod Catalyst microschool startup accelerator program. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Jun 28, 2024 • 49min
How to scale a successful homeschool program: Elmarie Hyman on serving hundreds of homeschoolers
Elmarie Hyman, founder of Learn Beyond the Book, brings a wealth of experience as a homeschooling advocate. She shares her journey from traditional education to launching a thriving secular homeschool resource center in California. The conversation dives into the benefits of homeschool charter schools, funding options, and the customizable classes offered. Elmarie discusses strategies for scaling her program, emphasizing community involvement and adapting to online formats while maintaining quality education and personal connections.
Jun 25, 2024 • 37min
“I was too innovative. I didn’t follow the rules.” A longtime public school teacher decided to become a school founder
Benita Gordon was a longtime public school teacher who is now the founder of Miami MicroLearn Hub, a microschool focusing on rising 6th to rising 12th graders in South Florida opening this August. Benita also founded the educational consulting company, Global Education Concierge. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Jun 21, 2024 • 50min
Whole Foods Market co-founder John Mackey on entrepreneurship
John Mackey is an author, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Whole Foods Market. In 2022, he stepped down from his 44 years as CEO of the natural and organic grocer. He is now launching a new startup, Love.Life. Mackey is the author of several books including the just-released The Whole Story: Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Jun 18, 2024 • 40min
“It’s a virtually untapped market.” Why this former teacher and founder thinks we’re only at the beginning of the innovative education movement
In Stillwater, Minnesota, Amy Marotz launched Awakening Spirit microschool to serve the distinct needs of gifted and neurodiverse learners. After earning an education degree and teaching at a Minneapolis charter school early in her career, Amy began homeschooling her own children and saw a need for a dedicated program to address neurodiversity within a holistic, nurturing environment. She now runs the program from her home and is helping other aspiring founders to create their own innovative schools and spaces. The Rise of Education Entrepreneurs in Minnesota (Forbes.com) *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Jun 14, 2024 • 42min
Unbundling education at the REALM in Santa Monica, CA
Jessica Slayback and Victoria Forsman launched the REALM, Redesigning Education And Living Meaningfully, in 2010 as a microschool with one student and since then they have served 3,000 students with both full-time and part-time learning options. Located in Santa Monica, California, REALM currently enrolls 134 students ages 4 to 14 each semester, with a new high school program opening soon. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Jun 11, 2024 • 41min
“I need to serve children.” Former public school teacher Denice Dixon on becoming a school founder
Denice Dixon is a former public school special education teacher and founder of TREAD Academy, a K-12 microschool serving neurodivergent and neurotypical in Atlanta. Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Jun 7, 2024 • 28min
Utah’s first Wildflower Montessori microschool
Chip Reichanadter is an experienced Montessori educator and cofounder of Pinyon Montessori, a PreK-6 microschool in Salt Lake City that opened in November 2023 and is the first Wildflower Montessori school in Utah. Founded in 2014, Wildflower is a national network of dozens of teacher-owned Montessori microschools fostering child-centered learning. Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Jun 4, 2024 • 40min
Why is this Christian microschool near Phoenix so popular? Former public school teacher Coby Aldana on founding Refresh Learning Center
Former public school teacher Coby Aldana is the founder of Refresh Learning Center, a Christian microschool for kindergarteners through high schoolers near Phoenix, Arizona. It opened in August 2023 and focuses on small classes and personalized learning. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
